Ooks lead off Championship with tug of war victory

Setting the tone for the 2026 ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship, the NAIT Ooks rolled to a Game 1 win defeating the SAIT Trojans in four intense sets, 3-1 (16-25, 28-26, 31-29, 25-22), on Friday afternoon at Augustana Gym.
The victory moves the north's second-seeded team onto the right side of the bracket for a shot at the ACAC Championship on Sunday, pending they win their Semi-Final match tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Trojans who were seeded third in the south will play on the consolation side.

Off to a dominant start the SAIT Trojans came out strong with a 25-16 upset against the NAIT Ooks. Sarah Henriksen led the Trojans on the offence with 5 kills in the first set, showing just why she was named All-Conference outside. 
Across the net, Makenna Doyle made herself known on the offence, matching Henriksen with 5 kills in the first set. 

"We didn't start out great but we managed to pull a full set together, and what I was really proud of was the fact that we were down, we came back, and we went point for point with them" said Head Coach of the Ooks, Erminia Russo Thorpe
Both teams put on a thrilling show in the second set, with NAIT jumping out to an early lead before SAIT battled right back. As the set pushed into the red zone, momentum swung back and forth in a nail-biting set that stayed tight to the final points. NAIT showcased a balanced offensive attack, effectively involving all-conference middle Tanisha McQueen, while SAIT answered with a dominant performance from Courtney Webber, who controlled play and kept the Trojans firmly in the fight.

The third set was a battle from start to finish, defined by momentum swings and relentless effort on both sides. Strong setting from Grace Florence helped SAIT establish an early edge, highlighted by two back-to-back service aces to open a 9–5 lead and continued dominance from the service line. Unforced errors, however, allowed NAIT to claw back into the set and tighten the score to 12–11. The play remained scrappy and intense as both teams traded points deep into the red zone, with the Trojans defense rising to neutralize the Ooks offensive weapons. Ultimately, Katie Nashim delivered a powerhouse performance in the third, recording 10 kills in the set and sealing a dramatic 31–29 victory to close it out.

"I think certain players did what we needed to do at the right time." says Russo Thorpe. "Whether it was Katie getting a ball or Racquel passing a great ball. Piece by piece, that's what I was happy with." 

The final set delivered a tense finish as both teams traded momentum deep into a tight battle. Katie Nashim carried her momentum from the third set to keep SAIT within striking distance, while the Ooks responded with a dynamic offensive rhythm led by setter Lexi Gedney, whose movement spread the floor and disrupted the Trojans' blocking schemes. The Ooks' left-side hitters were effective throughout, complemented by a strong presence at the net as Tanisha McQueen anchored a disciplined blocking effort. Locked in a back-and-forth set to the end, McQueen delivered a clutch service ace to put NAIT at match point, but Nashim had the final say, sealing a 25–22 win to close out the match.

The Ooks will wait for the results of Game 2 between the Red Deer Queens and Lakeland Rustlers this afternoon to learn who they will take on in ACAC Semi-Final action tomorrow at 6:00 PM MST at Augustana Gym.