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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Mar 11, 2022

Rustlers down Clippers in four, earn spot in gold medal match against Queens

Rustlers down Clippers in four, earn spot in gold medal match against Queens
Program Tickets Box Score
Game Leaders
BC
K: Julia Beer - 14
B: Faith Buhler - 3
D: Savanna Boot - 15
SA: Reece Sorensen - 3
LAKE
K: Jenay Varga - 19
B: 2 Players (#13, #17) - 4
D: Jenay Varga - 15
SA: 2 Players (#13, #17) - 1
Team Stats
Full stats

Red Deer, AB – The Lakeland College Rustlers used a match high 19 kills from Jenay Varga to advance to the gold medal game against the host Red Deer Polytechnic Queens.

After dropping the opening set, Varga and the Rustlers got on a roll, rattling off victories over the next three sets against the Briercrest College Clippers to pick up the victory (13-25, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-23).

The Clippers started strong. A pair of kills from Rachel Stead and All-Conference middle Faith Buhler sparked the Clippers to a 15-11 margin in the first set. Then Clippers' Julia Beer got into the action, accumulating her third kill and helping her squad to pick up a 25-13 win.

After a 7-7 start to the second set, the Clippers went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead 13-7. The Rustlers chipped away. ACAC North Player of the Year Jenay Varga's third kill from the left brought the Rustlers within three (11-14). Rustlers setter Jana Laing continued to find rhythm with Varga (eight kills) on the outside and the team took the set 25-23.

Lakeland rolled out to a 12-6 edge in the third set. Then service pressure from Julia Beer (ace) brought Briercrest College within a pair (16-18). In a back-and-forth finish, Lakeland's Varga capped off a 25-23 decision with a tip over the block.

After the fourth set was even 9-9, a stuff block from Avery Bates helped the Rustlers go on a 5-2 run (14-11). The Clippers battled back. Beer's 13th kill from the left brought Briercrest ahead by one (18-17). The Rustlers didn't relent. Varga's 19th kill sealed the set 25-23, and the match.

Clippers Player of the Game Buhler totaled 11 kills, 13 digs, two of the team's eight aces and three of Briercrest's seven blocks. Teammate Beer recorded 14 kills. Setter Jessica Zacharias accumulated 39 assists. Savanna Boot added 15 digs.

Along with Rustlers Player of the Match Varga's 19 kills, she added 15 digs, and one of the team's 11 blocks. Bates had nine kills. The Rustlers had a pair of service aces.

On Saturday, the Briercrest College Clippers will play The King's University Eagles for bronze at 6 pm.

The Lakeland College Rustlers will face the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens for ACAC gold on Saturday at 8 pm.