Olds Defeats Briercrest in Four Entertaining Sets

by Jeff Misener

The Briercrest Clippers hosted the Olds College Broncos in a crucial South Division contest in men's volleyball. Both teams hold identical 8-5 records, so the promise of an intense and energetic match fuelled excitement among the Briercrest crowd. Additionally, the weekend provided the opportunity to celebrate the fine career of graduating student-athlete Davis Borden.

Heavy hitting and staunch net presence highlighted the early stages of set one. A thunderous hit off a free ball by Karym Coleman sent the crowd into a frenzy of delight, but Olds' Matheus Franca immediately replied. Broncos' setter Thomas Pugsley pummelled an errant pass and the Olds frontline negated successive attacks by Coleman and Jackson Anderson to build a small edge. Clippers' middle hitter Noah Dirsten and setter Jeremy Martens combined to reject an Olds attack, but the Broncos found that extra gear to win the set 25-21.

Coleman and Broncos' Reed Grusing traded the thunder to launch the second set. The Clippers discovered a brief spark of inspiration with Tyson Nachtigall serving, but for much of the frame, the teams traded errors and side outs and engaged in quick, one-and-done rallies. Down the stretch, Briercrest rode the mighty right arms of Coleman and Davis Borden to a 25-20 victory.

The Broncos developed prolonged, stable chemistry in their front line early in set three as setter Pugsley fed hitters Franca and Phillip Sutherland. Their lead grew to seven when Grusing froze the Clippers' back line with consecutive aces. Martens connected with Borden, who painted the attack line, but Briercrest could not capitalize. A sneaky, sidewinding ace from Olds lefty Franca elicited a quick response from Dirsten and Coleman. After Franca's thunderous crosscourt attack overpowered the home team's block, the Broncos cruised to a 25-16 win.

The fourth set began a carbon copy of the previous three – both teams pounding away but neither gaining the upper hand. Coleman and Franca exchanged strikes and Dirsten roofed Sutherland and Aidyn Phillips, but Sutherland immediately rejected Borden. Phillips squeezed a ball through the double team of Coleman and Dirsten, but Coleman responded with an ace. In the match's best rally, Franca roofed Coleman. Martens fed Dirsten in the middle, but the big man couldn't connect on serve. An offensive error by Briercrest gave the visitors the match, winning 25-21.

Player of the Game honours were given to Olds College setter Thomas Pugsley, who distributed 21 assists to go with five kills and a block. For the home squad, Davis Borden scored four digs and eight kills. Borden was celebrated with a video tribute following the match, and in a gesture that exuded class, the entire Olds Broncos men's team filed by to offer their congratulations to the graduating senior.