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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Nov 18, 2022

Clippers Edge a Determined Northwestern Polytechnic Squad in Five Sets

Box Score
Game Leaders
NWP
K: Katie Nashim - 11
B: 2 Players (#9, #10) - 1
D: Gabrielle Capelle - 19
SA: 4 Players (#1, #5, #11, #13) - 1
BC
K: Faith Buhler - 19
B: Faith Buhler - 2
D: Brooklyn Buhler - 23
SA: Jess Zacharias - 2
Team Stats
Full stats

Written by Jeff Misener

The Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves (NWP) made the long trek to Caronport, SK, to play the Briercrest Clippers in a match-up of ACAC women's volleyball teams. The Grande Prairie school was hungry for their first win of the season in the tough North Division, while the Clippers looked to ascend the ACAC South standings.

In the opening set, serving errors by the hosts and potent offense from Wolves' Alexandra Pullishy, Sierra LaValley, and Gracie Smith gave NWP a 12-5 lead. The Clippers countered with strong attacking by Kelsey Simes and tricky serving from Summer Okerstrom and Brooklyn Buhler, knotting the game at 19-19. Down the stretch, the Wolves rode the offensive efficiency of Pullishy and Katie Nashim as they stole the first set 25-23.

The Clippers jumped to a 6-1 advantage in set two, but the Wolves quickly squared the game. With Clippers' Brynn Hardy smashing away on the left side and Jess Zacharias handcuffing the visitors with her serve, the hosts built a commanding lead. Faith Buhler delivered a rocket to the middle to seal the set for Briercrest, 25-15.

In the middle frame, Briercrest twice surged to large leads, but the Wolves fought back each time, knotting the score. Clippers' setter Jess Zacharias and teammate Brynn Hardy baffled the Wolves with their serves, and Simes and Buhler headed up the offense, but contributions from Nashim and Gracie Smith drew the Grande Prairie team level at 22-22. Robyn Alexandruk's ace gave the visitors a glimmer of hope, but Julia Beer took control of the final moments, allowing Briercrest to steal the set 25-23.

In the penultimate frame, NWP's Pullishy continued to punish the block, and setter Madison Chabot vexed the Clippers with line drive serves as the Wolves built a 21-17 lead. The Clippers won an ugly rally to cut the deficit to one, but clutch serving from Chabot awarded a close set to the visitors, 25-23.

In the deciding set, outside hitters for both teams continued to thump the ball. In the waning moments, Nashim's back row attack was nullified by Julia Beer's kill, and when Brooklyn Buhler's crosscourt bomb found the floor on the Wolves' side, the Clippers celebrated a 15-9 win.

NWP's Katie Nashim received Player of the Game honours, recording seven digs and 11 kills. Briercrest outside hitter Brooklyn Buhler secured the award on the strength of 23 digs, eight kills and four assists.