Well after what felt like a lengthy break for fans but I’m sure was far too short for the players the Briercrest Athletics teams were back in action this weekend. The men had a huge matchup with Mount Royal who came into the weekend tied with Briercrest atop the standings. The first set started with a bang as Cody Quiring almost put a ball through the floor, he is known for his high energy but this was something else, it’s almost as if he was a changed man over the break, I’m not sure what happened but there was definitely some extra spring in his swing. Pablo Acuna had a couple amazing digs that had the crowd whipped into a frenzy, but Mount Royal would have an early lead. Lesher would get in on the action attacking Mount Royals 7’2 middle and blasting a ball right past him for one of his 24 kills on the day. Blocks from Wendel and Klassen would tie the game at 14, and a great diving effort by Quiring followed up by a Lesher kill would give Briercrest its first lead. Cody would blast a shot off the big guys dome and into the rafters and the crowd was loving it. Willms came up with a really nice block on a pipe shot and Dyck and Lesher would add blocks combined with a couple points from the friendly Hangar to give the boys the set 25-18. The second set saw Mount Royal again take a lead before two nice tips from Klassen and three kills from Dyck would give the boys a lead. Klassen would go down in the set on a play with what looked like a separated shoulder, and the team immediately grouped up to pray for their wounded brother. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Trevor, keep him in your prayers. Mount Royal ended up taking the set 25-23.
The next two sets would see Reimer step up in a big way for the Clippers with some great serving leading to 6 point and 5 point Briercrest runs. At one point he had dove to save a ball and Mount Royals big middle spiked one straight back down at him, the ball would go off his knee, get saved by Acuna and end in a Clipper point getting a monster cheer from the crowd. Both sets would end 25-21 with each team taking one to force an exciting fifth set. Wendel got the team started blasting the ball off an opponents chest for the point and then teeing off on a party ball to give the boys and early lead. The team would play great a carry a lead through the set. Aubrey Poulin would come in to serve and deliver a clutch ace to give the Clips a four point lead and they wouldn’t look back, taking the final set 15-8. Reimer earned the MVP for his great play when the boys needed it.

Saturdays match would be just as exciting as Friday’s with the teams trading sets and a great team effort from the boys. After dropping the first set they stormed back in a big way in the second. At one point one of the Mount Royal players was given a yellow card and their team lost a point? I didn’t even know that existed in volleyball, regardless, the crowd was all over him and in an effort to let him make up for it Mount Royal set him up for the kill which was absolutely stuffed by two of the boys in blue and the crowd tore the roof off in thunderous applause. Briercrest would easily take the set 25-17 evening the game at one apiece. Willms would give the guys some great serving in the third set to keep it close but Briercrest would get called for being out of rotation at a crucial point putting them behind 22-23. They would tie it up and then Cody made a huge play at the net to take the lead. This one would need extra points and Joel Dyck would come up with a big kill to give the Clippers a 26-25 lead and Quiring would put it away with a serve Mount Royal couldn’t handle.
The fourth set would go Mount Royal’s way despite some amazing defense by the Clippers. In one sequence, Quiring and Acuna had two great digs each on a long rally and Lesher would dig a ball that would sail through two sets of rafters and come down in play and fair. The tight set would finish 26-24 Mount Royal taking us to a fifth set for the second time in two days. Briercrest would come out quick taking a 3-0 lead after Willms had a great kill right through Mount Royals big middle. A Josh Wendel kill would extend the lead to 5 and Lesher would make an amazing block flying out of nowhere on what looked like a wide open shot. Quiring 6-packed an opposing player to add insult to injury and Dyck would finish the set 15-10 on a big kill. Lesher earned player of the game honors with 18 kills 17 digs, 2 aces and 2 blocks and the win would push Briercrest into sole possession of first place in the ACAC, congrats boys.