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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: Feb 17, 2023

Briercrest Defeats SAIT in Four

Box Score
Game Leaders
SAIT
K: Leeanne Arnott - 11
B: Leeanne Arnott - 3
D: Emileigh Inglis - 14
SA: Leeanne Arnott - 3
BC
K: Julia Beer - 22
B: Summer Okerstrom - 2
D: Brynn Hardy - 15
SA: Jess Zacharias - 7
Team Stats
Full stats

by Jeff Misener

With the ACAC women's volleyball championships nearly upon us, the Briercrest Clippers hosted the SAIT Trojans in one of two play-in games on Friday night to determine who would continue their quest for an appearance at the 2023 CCAA National Championships in Nanaimo, BC. Both squads have multiple players among the statistical leaders in kills, service aces, and blocks, but the Clippers defeated the Trojans two weeks ago and enjoy that psychological advantage.

Kelsey Simes opened Briercrest's offense with a run of robust serves. SAIT outside hitters LeeAnne Arnott and Grace Coulter countered for the visitors before Clippers' Julia Beer began a run of success on the left side. Frequent side outs meant that neither team enjoyed a lengthy stretch of dominance. Clippers' setter Jess Zacharias launched her squad into the lead while on serve, handcuffing the Trojans' defense. Zacharias also gave her hitters numerous opportunities to excel. Briercrest rode the serving of substitute Nicole Mitchell and the attacking of Faith Buhler to a 25-17 win in set one.

The Clippers surged out to an early lead in set two as Zacharias delivered a string of stinging serves and found all her hitting targets. Summer Okerstrom piggybacked on Zacharias' serving excellence to build the lead, but Arnott and her teammates dug in and weathered the storm. A brilliant attack by Rachel Stead extended the host's lead before SAIT setter Grace Florence settled the visitors, allowing them to surge ahead. Arnott's serving and potent attacking allowed SAIT to steal the game, 25-23.

With Beer on serve, and Buhler and Beer leading the back row attack, the Clippers raced ahead in set three, only to have SAIT level the game with strong play at the net. With the game tied, Buhler rolled up her sleeves and started pummelling the ball. Clippers' Brooklyn Buhler subbed in and immediately impacted the game on serve. Stead's smooth step around gave Briercrest the third set, 25-21.

Beer opened the fourth set with some forceful hitting from the outside, while Stead complemented the offense in the middle. With Arnott and Florence on serve and Taryn Corkery leading the offense, the visitors climbed into the lead. Again, Beer stepped in to stall the SAIT threat. Nicole Mitchell steadied the Clippers' serving game, and Beer delivered the thunder down the stretch as Briercrest won the set, 25-22.

Player of the Game for the SAIT Trojans was Grace Florence, who distributed 30 assists to go along with 10 digs and two aces. For Briercrest, Julia Beer dominated the offensive game with 22 kills. The Clippers advance to the ACAC women's volleyball championships in Red Deer, AB.