Clippers Defeat Queens in incredible 5 set match.
The ACAC Conference Championship Gold Medal match featured the Red Deer College Queens and the Briercrest Clippers. Both sides had a large contingent of fans making the trip from their respective cities. The Game opened with the Clippers holding serve for 3 straight points before the Queens could respond with 2 of their own. On a close line call the Queens evened the set at 3 before the clippers quickly earned a side-out. The Queens roared back to take a 6-4 lead before the Clippers could respond. The teams again traded side outs as the score approached double digits. The Clippers were able to level the score on a Faith Buhler Ace and the set was level at 9 each. A side out each way saw both teams at 10 as the highly competitive game had not lost any intensity. The Clippers strung 2 points together to take a 12-10 lead, but a service error gave the ball right back to Red Deer. Again the teams started to trade side outs as the set moved past the halfway point with neither team wavering or giving an inch. The Queens scored 2 in a row to tie the set at 16 but the Clippers were quick to respond. The match was very even as the set moved closer to the final stages, with the Queens taking a late advantage on 2 Briercrest errors. Down 19-17 Briercrest quickly took a timeout in an effort to stall any Red Deer momentum. The Clippers were able to gain the serve back but the Queens executed a perfect 3 hit side-out and still led by 2. The Teams traded side-outs with nothing changing. A second exchange of side-outs saw the Queens move closer to victory. A huge block to put themselves up 23-20, the Queens were 2 points away from taking the first set. seeing this, the clippers took a timeout in an effort to change the momentum. The Clippers earned a huge block from Faith Buhler to win the point but the clippers could not stop the Queen who quickly earned set point. Holding serve, the Queens took the first set 25-21 looking sharp in the win.
The Second set opened with the Clippers making a quick side-out followed up with a block that led to a Queens error. Winning the next point as well, Briercrest had jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Yet another Red Deer error gave the Clippers 2 more points before they had touched the scoreboard in the set. A Clipper missed serve gave Red Deer their first point, but the Clippers won the ball right back. The Queens strung 2 together on a Clippers error but they responded with a big kill. Sensing this the Queens responded with a big kill of their own gaining momentum and cutting the Clipper lead to 2. Briercrest finally responded but the Queens continued to ride their momentum and matched. Both sides were playing hard with the Clippers hitting 10 first with the queens at 7. Adding another right away, Briercrest increased their lead to 4 once again. An excellent dig allowed the Clippers to add one more to their lead before the Queens took a timeout with the score 12-7. Coming out of the break, the teams continued to trade serves and side-outs as the Clippers continued to hold their lead. With both teams swinging hard, net Defense was at a premium. When Mia Harder came up with a block for Briercrest putting them up 18-12, it re-established the momentum in the Clippers favor. Hitting 20 points, the Clippers were still up 4 with Red Deer at 16. Briercrest scored again quickly and the Queens bench took action calling a timeout down 21-16. The Queens scored quickly out of the break on a Erin Neufeldt kill but the Clippers came right back with a big kill from Becky Garner. The Clippers held their lead late, But the Queens remained just at arms reach. Briercrest was able to hold on to take the set 25-20 and even the match at one set each.
The Queens opened up the third set with a quick side-out only to be answered right away by Briercrest. The Queens were once again able to jump out to an early lead going up 7-4 before the Clippers could respond. Trading side-outs again the score continued to climb as they approached double digits. The Queens were the first to get here, holding the Clippers to 6. Hoping to swing the momentum back in their direction, the Clippers took a timeout. Able to convert coming out of the break the Clippers were only able to score the one as the Queens came right back to score 2 and open a 12-7 lead. the Clippers started to chip away, but any time they looked to gain some momentum, Red Deer took it away quickly. Up 17-11, the Queens had a firm control of the set. Briercrest scored a lucky point and stole back some momentum, reducing the Queens lead to 4. They could not maintain it however, missing their next serve and mishandling the next. Down 21-15 the Clippers needed something quick if they wanted to come back in the set so they took a timeout in an effort to do so. Able to score out of the break, the Clippers made a quick Ace to make it 21-17, forcing the Queens to take a timeout of their own. Red Deer made a quick side out with the Clippers answering with one of their own. The Queens put a stranglehold on the set going up 24-18. The Clippers scored 2 straight before the Queens put the set away 25-20 going up 2 sets to 1.
The Fourth set opened with a block from Queen Tess Pearman. The Clippers answered back with Becky Garner's 20th kill of the evening. Just keeping it in play, the Clippers added 2 more off Red Deer errors to go up 3-1 in the early going. A Dribbler Ace over the net added another for Briercrest before the Queens regained the serve. The Clippers were able to quickly get a side-out of their own but the back and forth had begun. As the score hit double digits, The Clippers hit 10 first on 2 straight with the Queens still at 6. Briercrest was able to extend their lead with 2 more points making the score 12-6. The teams traded side-outs as the score passed the midway point. Briercrest were able to extend their lead once again scoring 3 quick points and going up 17-8. Another Clipper ace and the Queens took their second timeout down 10, 18-8. The Clippers hit 20 points with the Queens at 12, but another Briercrest ace added another quick point. The Clippers were content to trade side-outs but the Queens made a late charge to narrow the Clippers lead. Stalled at 24, the Clippers took a timeout with the Queens rapidly closing the gap at 19 points. The Queens scored again out of the break and trailed by only 4. Another quick 2 points and the lead was down to 2. The Clippers again took a timeout to settle things down. The Queens Alexandria Greenshields came up with a huge block to bring the Queens within 1, but the Clippers finally closed out the set 25-23 forcing a 5th set.
The 5th and deciding set saw the Clippers serving to the Queens. Red Deer fumbled the first pass and the Clippers took advantage scoring first. A Briercrest error evened the set at 1 and the energy in the gym hit a new high. The Clippers scored 2 straight with an ace from Mikayla Benterud and followed that with another to go up 3-1. Another quick tip from Briercrest and they opened up a 5-1 lead forcing the Queens to take a timeout. Benterud's serves continued to handcuff the Queens until they scored making it 6-2. The Clippers were able to answer quickly with a 3 hit side-out. The Clippers went up 8-3 and held a 5 point cushion at the court switch. The Queens took advantage of the switch and quickly narrowed the lead to 8-6. A huge block from Queen Greenshields brought the Queens within one before the Clippers could regain the serve. 9-7 Clippers, Reece Harder found the line and regained the Clippers small advantage. The intensity ramped up again as the Queens had come back within one. They tied the set at 10 and the Clippers took a timeout in an effort to regroup. The Clippers came out of the break with a quick side-out but the Queens responded immediately matching it at 11. Again the Clippers were able to generate a quick side-out to maintain the advantage but again the Queens matched. The Clippers quickly scored 2 going up 14-12 earning the chance to serve for the match. The Queens took their second timeout and looked to push the game further. The Clippers were able to score right away as they won the 5th set 15-12.
The ACAC Players of the game were Erin Neufeldt for Red Deer and Ashley Erickson for Briercrest.
The Championship All Stars were Kaylee Domoney, Emma Holmes, and Emma Letkeman from RDC Ashley Erickson, and Mikayla Benterud.
The MVP for the ACAC Championship tournament was Becky Garner of Briercrest with 31 kills in the final.