ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship Preview
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
The 2017-2018 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Volleyball Championships spike it up Thursday as the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings host in Camrose, Alberta.
Returning from last year's championships are the Ambrose University Lions, Lakeland College Rustlers, Brirecrest Clippers, NAIT Ooks, Red Deer College Queens and The King's University Eagles.
Not returning are the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves and SAIT Trojans.
In their place are the host University of Alberta Augustana Vikings and Lethbridge College Kodiaks.
We talked to the coaches from the No. 1 ranked North Division Lakeland College Rustlers and South Division leader Briercrest Clippers about this weekend's championships.
Of the fact that the Lakeland College Rustlers were on a 19-match win streak, having lost only nine sets while winning 57, before losing to the NAIT Ooks February 2, 2018 3-1, Lakeland coach Austin Dyer said:
"I think the big part that the streak ended was that we were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win. As much as it is great to win and go undefeated, it is just another burden that you are carrying into the championships.
"To be honest, I am glad that we lost as we are now focused on just one thing and that is being the best team that we can be. People are always saying that it is good to lose one but I don't think that weighs on us a lot as we are an older team who has done its share of losing."
Lakeland is defending ACAC Women's Volleyball Champion.
"We have been using it as a motivator," said Dyer. "We have been through it once and remember what it took to get there and we will try to do the same things."
Like the Rustlers, the Briercrest Clippers lost only one match during the 2017-2018 ACAC regular season but it was much earlier in the season
In fact it was only their second match, a 16-25, 20-25, 14-25 loss to the Red Deer Queens October 14, 2017.
Despite that, head coach Nolan Weinmaster believed it was still a motivator.
"It helped us a lot. It gave us a high sense of motivation to get better early in the first half of the season.
"We have a pretty veteran group this year and they understand what it takes to have success at this level and that we can't rest on the success we have had to date. They are hungry and humble and they are called to give their best every day."
Weinmaster added that the play of fifth-year veteran Samantha Zacharias, who is the all-time leader in ACAC kills and service aces, has been instrumental.
"Sam has been a special player for our program and it has been awesome to be part of her career and to see her succeed over the last five years. The other girls look to her in her continued work ethic."
Below are thumbnail sketches of the teams.
Game 1
Thursday February 22, 2018 1 p.m.
NAIT Ooks vs. Red Deer College Queens
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| Hannah Gorgichuk |
NAIT Ook
Matches Won 16 Matches Lost 8 Sets Won 54 Sets Lost 34
ACAC Championships: 1
Top Performers:
Kills: Hannah Gorgichuk 228
Blocks: Taylor Card 43
Service Aces: Jamie Bain 31
Digs: Lauren Smith 321
Assists: Jamie Bain 753
Red Deer College Queens
Matches Won 18 Matches Lost 6 Sets Won 62 Sets Lost 24
ACAC Championships: 19
Top Performers:
Kills: Miranda Dawe 271
Blocks: McKenna Barthel 27
Service Aces: Chanelle Kayser 39
Digs: Kaylee Domoney 288
Assists: Chanelle Kayser 719
Game 2
Thursday February 22, 2018 3 p.m.
Ambrose University Lions vs Lakeland College Rustlers
Ambrose University Lions
Matches Won 14 Matches Lost 10 Sets Won 47 Sets Lost 46
ACAC Championships: 0
Top Performers:
Kills: Madeline Williscroft 196
Blocks: Willow Lewington 40
Service Aces: Willow Lewington 32
Digs: Madyson Kerr 307
Assists: Jess Zacharias 570
Lakeland College Rustlers
Matches Won 23 Matches Lost 1 Sets Won 70 Sets Lost 12
ACAC Championships: 1
Top Performers:
Kills: Ahnika Kuse 232
Blocks: Alyssa Grondin 54
Service Aces: Ahnika Kuse 38
Digs: Olivia Thomson 248
Assists: Rae Sigurdson 767
Game 3
Thursday February 22, 2018 6 p.m.
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| Corissa Mildenberger |
Lethbridge College Kodiaks vs The Kings University Eagles
Lethbridge College Kodiaks
Matches Won 14 Matches Lost 10 Sets Won 53 Sets Lost 40
ACAC Championships: 1
Top Performers:
Kills: Kristine Ward 278
Blocks: Laura Serafini 49
Service Aces: Kristine Ward 43
Digs: Kristine Ward 209
Assists: Ashleigh Noel 580
The Kings University Eagles
Matches Won 17 Matches Lost 7 Sets Won 57 Sets Lost 30
ACAC Championships: 0
Top Performers:
Kills: Jayden Bontkes 264
Blocks: Caitlin Buist 57
Service Aces: Pamela Xu 28
Digs: Brittany Wells 229
Assists: Pamela Xu 655
Game 4
Thursday February 22, 2018 8 p.m.
University of Alberta Augustana Vikings vs Briercrest Clippers
University of Alberta Augustana Vikings
Matches Won 8 Matches Lost 16 Sets Won 37 Sets Lost 54
ACAC Championships: 0
Top Performers:
Kills: Rae Metrunec 198
Blocks: Rebecca Petrie 51
Service Aces: Rebecca Bates 22, Rae Metrunec 22
Digs: Kiana Mah 208
Assists: Karen Wagner 554
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| Samantha Zacharias |
Briercrest Clippers
Matches Won 23 Matches Lost 1 Sets Won 69 Sets Lost 18
ACAC Championships: 1
Top Performers:
Kills: Samantha Zacharias 344
Blocks: Karina Peterson 36
Service Aces: Samantha Zacharias 72
Digs: Kristy Kindrachuk 297
Assists: Ashley Zacharias 781