Briercrest Clippers punch their ticket to semi finals with win over Eagles
CAMROSE, Alta. — The final match of the day at the 2025 ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship delivered everything fans could hope for, as the Briercrest Clippers and The King's Eagles went toe-to-toe in a gripping five-set showdown. In a match filled with momentum swings and clutch performances, it was the Clippers who rose to the occasion when it mattered most, outlasting the Eagles to emerge victorious.
Set one belonged to the Briercrest Clippers, who set the tone early with a dominant start. Calm, composed play in the back row allowed the Clippers to run a confident and effective offence, keeping the The King's Eagles on the defensive throughout the set. Briercrest's steady control and offensive pressure carried them to a convincing 25–18 opening-set win.
The second set delivered a true back-and-forth battle, with neither side willing to give an inch as momentum swung repeatedly. The matchup at the net featured dueling middle threats in Alivia Fraser for the Briercrest Clippers and Ashley Lockwood for The King's Eagles, as both players stuffed attacks to keep the score tight with the Eagles holding a slim edge. Down late, Player of the Year Rachel Stead took over, powering the Clippers back into contention and then leveling the set in the red zone with poised, high-IQ swings. After an extended rally-filled finish, a final Eagles misfire sealed a dramatic 31–29 set win for Briercrest. "Team Chemistry, we stay process oriented" says Head Coach of the Briercrest Clippers Kate Krogen. "I said to the girls, this is our choice of what we want to do in this emotional high of just one at a time. We just had to focus on one at a time and we couldn't think about the outcome"
The third set saw the Briercrest Clippers maintain their scrappy edge early, disrupting the The King's Eagles attack. The Clippers built strong momentum behind a service run from Kacey Dale to take an 8–3 lead. The Clippers continued to find success at the net through the steady connection between Rachel Stead and her front-row options, but the Eagles refused to fade. North Player of the Year Chenee Lehman anchored the back row with composed defence and serve receive, allowing the Eagles' offence to heat up late. Led by Samantha Langdon, The King's clawed back in the red zone, tying the set at 18–18 before completing the comeback and stealing the set 27–25.
Set four opened with immediate intensity as Ashley Lockwood set the tone early for The King's Eagles, asserting her presence at the net. The Briercrest Clippers answered right back, leaning on the offensive firepower of Brooklyn Houde and Alivia Fraser to keep the set tight. Momentum swung as Emma Sheerle showcased her all-conference form with timely, momentum-shifting blocks, pulling the Eagles within striking distance. Despite Briercrest's relentless, scrappy defence, the Eagles stayed composed down the stretch and edged out a 25–23 win to force a decisive fifth set. The Clippers powered through the long final set to secure their ticket to semi-finals, taking down the Eagles 21-19.
The Clippers will continue their journey to a Championships title, taking on the Augustana Vikings at 8:00pm tomorrow evening.