Ambrose Women Win Five Setter Against Briercrest

The Briercrest women's volleyball team hosted the undefeated Ambrose Lions for top spot in the early season standings of the ACAC South Division. Both teams were looking to build on early successes, but the nerves were apparent in the opening set as service errors abounded. Ambrose had to burn both of their timeouts to prevent the hosts from racing ahead to big leads, but the Clippers eventually settled into a steady rhythm and took the game, 25-18.

In set two, Ambrose surged to a 12-6 lead, riding the strong serve of Gracee Fehr and the effective setting of Alexa Herrod. Following a Clippers' time out, both teams came out with increased intensity on offense and defense, but the hosts could not take advantage of their opportunities, and Faith Solecki served out the set for Ambrose, 25-16.

Gracee Fehr's strong serving boosted her squad to a quick 5-1 lead in the middle frame. Ambrose enjoyed a buffer of several points for most of the set, but wily setting by Jess Zacharias of Briercrest and timely hitting and defense by the hosts helped reduced the lead to one. Elise Wagner of Ambrose served her team to a 25-21 victory.

Briercrest surged to an early 7-3 lead in set four, but clutch serving from Ambrose's Brooklyn Deol helped knot the set at 9-9. Punishing attacks by Briercrest's Kelsey Simes and Kacey de Jong vaulted the Clippers to a 21-17 lead, and Simes beat a double block to close the set, 25-19.

In the final set, serving and hitting featured prominently. A big block by Ambrose middle Deol was matched by Briercrest outside hitter Simes' massive solo block. Bailey Opseth served Briercrest into a 6-6 tie. In the end, Ambrose took advantage of miscues by the home team closed the set 15-10, taking the match three games to two.

For Ambrose, the Player of the Game was #12, Gracee Fehr, who was a standout on serve with five aces. The Clippers' Julia Beer earned the POG honour on the strength of 21 kills and 14 digs.