Briercrest mens volleyball falls to SAIT in season opener
After the Briercrest women’s volleyball team achieved victory over the Trojans, the Briercrest Clippers men’s volleyball team faced the SAIT Trojans for their 2014-15 ACAC season home opener.
At the start of the first set, SAIT took an 8-3 lead with their incredible blocks and hard hits. As the crowd grew louder Briercrest began to catch up with SAIT, cutting the lead to 12-10. The Trojans put up a good fight and battled Briercrest during the first set, but Briercrest had warmed up and tied the set 15-15 with SAIT calling a cliff-hanging time out. The competitive match continued to tie up and each team scrambled to gain points. Briercrest took a time out with SAIT leading 22-19. It was a tight back and forth set to see which team would claim victory for the men’s volleyball home opener. With a pattern of ties and close points Briercrest tied up the score board 24-24. By the end of the first set SAIT took back their points in the lead with 26-24.
As the second set began Briercrest appeared determined and ready to tie up the match scoring the first point of the set, but SAIT stormed back. Briercrest took a time out with SAIT holding a 9-5 lead. SAIT continued to pull ahead halfway through the second set building a 13-7 lead. The Trojans end the second set with a 25-11 win. It was a tough set for Briercrest as the Trojans prove to comeback strong and battle hard for the 2-0 lead.
A roaring start to the third set with Briercrest getting the first point on the scoreboard. After SAIT took the lead Briercrest was determined to come back and tied the score 5-5. The crowd sat on the edge of their seats as the two teams battled to see who would take the lead. In the middle of the third set, the scoreboard continued to be unpredictable with SAIT leading 16-10. Briercrest pushed back but SAIT won the third set 25-18 to take the game.
Josh Wendel was the Briercrest player of the game with tremendous hits and blocks. He had a team high three blocks to go with four kills, three digs and an assist and service ace. Carter Reimer led Briercrest with 16 assists, Zac Ens had a team high seven kills, Jonah Johnson had a game high two service aces and Jachin Karg and Jonathan Phillips each had five digs.
SAIT won every aspect of the game; 36-23 for kills, 31-20 for assists, 8-4 for service aces, 32-28 for digs and 9-3 for blocks.
Briercrest’s next game is against SAIT Saturday, October 18 at 3:00 pm.
If you can’t make it to the Margaret P. Reimer Memorial Gymnasium for tomorrow’s game be sure to watch online at acac.tv.
For up to date information on the Briercrest volleyball team, “like” the Briercrest Volleyball facebook page.