By Justin Steenhof

Briercrest Clippers (2-3) vs.  Augustana Vikings (2-3) Saturday November 10, 2012

The University of Alberta, Augustana Vikings pulled out the slim victory over the Briercrest clippers winning a very intense match in five sets. (26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 19-17)

Augustana came out strong jumping to the early three point lead as they looked to rebound from Friday night’s loss. Briercrest would look to respond with kills from Mikayla Reihnardt and Elly Wendel along with the strong serving of Melissa Helsloot and coming storming back to tie and then take the lead. A small Viking’s run would be answered with a back row kill from Wendel and a big block from Amanda Lundquist.  The Vikings though would just not go away as they pushed through and took the two point lead causing a Briercrest timeout with the score 15-13.

The Vikings would come out strong from the timeout extending the lead to three and causing Briercrest to quickly use another timeout. Briercrest would seemingly have no answer for the strong Viking attack and would fall behind by five as Augustana would look to close out the set. A surge by Briercrest would cut the Augustana lead to one with the score 22-21 and the Viking’s coach needing a timeout. The two teams would battle back and forth tying the score at 24 but it was the Vikings pulling out the closely contested set 26-24 and a one to nothing set lead.

Both teams came out strong in the second set as Briercrest looked to avenge their first set loss of the weekend. Neither team was able to seize the momentum early on as they both traded points and kills as the lead went back and forth. This pattern would continue late into the set as the neither team led by more than one until Augustana grabbed three straight points taking the 11-8 lead. A block by Elly Wendel and Melissa Helsloot seemed to shift the momentum but the Vikings always seemed to have an answer forcing a Clipper timeout.

The Vikings would again go on a short run as they looked to extend their lead, but Briercrest would not go away as Wendel provided some offense as Briercrest would just not go away. Continuing to fight Briercrest cut the Augustana lead to just one and forced a time out as Augustana tried to regroup.  Augustana would give up one point straight out of the timeout but would then answer with three straight points leading to another timeout this time by Briercrest. The Clippers would fight off three potential set points but Augustana would eventually close out the set 25-23 and take a commanding two to nothing set lead.

The Viking’s would come out strong in the third set as they looked to repay the three set sweep that Briercrest had handed them on Friday with a sweep of their own. However some nice scramble points followed by a Whitney Zylstra kill would tie up the scoring early and as Briercrest took the lead the Augustana coach had seen enough and needed a timeout to talk to his players. Wendel would try and continue the Clipper momentum with a kill but the Vikings would respond with one of their own kills. The two teams would start to trade points as the Viking’s looked to cut into the Briercrest lead but a strong offensive output by Wendel and Mikayla Reinhardt would make this extremely difficult. However, with some perseverance and strong will Augustana would cut the Clipper lead to one forcing a Briercrest timeout.

Again the two teams would start to trade points as Briercrest maintained their slim lead late into the third set. However Augustana would make a late push tying the game at 21 and forcing Briercrest into a timeout as they tried to regroup. A kill by Starlet Peterson followed by an Augustana error would give Briercrest the third set 25-22.

The start of the fourth set would follow a familiar pattern as both teams’ traded points and the lead went back and forth between the two teams. However, the Vikings were looking to finish off the Clippers and this showed as they took the early lead and continued to push Briercrest early taking a three point lead. Amanda Lundquist would spark a Briercrest rally with a well-placed tip as Briercrest would fight back to take the three point lead and force an Augustana timeout.

However, the timeout would turn things around for Augustana as they would storm back to take a one point lead and force Briercrest into their own timeout.  Another well place tip by Lundquist and some strong serving by Jocelyn Nielsen got Briercrest going as they fought back earning a four point lead.  However, the Vikings would just not go away as they slowly fought back bringing the game to within two points at 23-21 and lead to a Briercres timeout. However, a kill by Reinhardt would finish out the set with the Clippers winning it 25-21 and tying it at two set apiece.

After giving up a two to nothing set lead the Vikings came out strong in the fifth set, as they looked to avoid an epic collapse, taking the early lead. Briercrest would respond well as they carved into the Viking’s lead with a kill from Zylstra, however the momentum continued to swing back and forth. Three straight kills from Reinhardt would tie the game at nine and lead to an Augustana timeout as they desperately tried to regroup. The momentum would begin to swing back towards Briercrest as a massive stuff block followed by a Reinhardt kill would lead to a Viking timeout. The two teams would trade match points in a very exciting and intense final set but the Vikings prevailed 19-17 winning the match three sets to two.

Augustana Viking’s Player of the Game: # 11 Alana Fahlman two blocks, five aces, 10 digs, 13 kills

Briercrest Clipper’s Player of the Game: # 5 Mikayla Reinhardt one block, one ace, 23 digs, 12 kills

Game notes: Briercrest statistical leaders were Brooke Peterson with 28 digs, Jocelyn Neilsen and Amanda Lundquist with 3 service aces, and Erica Cartman and Elly Wendel with 3 blocks each. Starlet Peterson also had a strong game with 11 kills, one ace, and 14 digs.

Briercrest falls to a (2-4) record with their next game coming on the road against NAIT on November 16.