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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: Feb 21, 2025

Ooks take the battle of the polytechnics to extend season

Ooks take the battle of the polytechnics to extend season
Box Score
Game Leaders
SAIT
K: Mia Delaquis - 20
B: 2 Players (#13, #15) - 5
D: Emileigh Inglis - 14
SA: 4 Players (#3, #4, #15, #18) - 2
NAIT
K: Rachel Mallett - 28
B: Madeline Smith - 2
D: Courtney Webber - 24
SA: Lexi Gedny - 2
Team Stats
Full stats

CAMROSE, Alta. - In a battle of the polytechnics, the NAIT Ooks overtook their Calgary rivals, the SAIT Trojans in a five-set stunner, 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11) at the ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship on Friday afternoon at Augustana Gym.

With plenty to play for, the Ooks extend their season for another day and will take either the Ambrose Lions or the Briercrest Clippers tomorrow afternoon in the championship consolation final. Meanwhile, the SAIT Trojans saw their season come to a close.

"I told them it was a brand new tournament," said Ooks head coach Erminia Russo Thorpe about regrouping after a loss the day before. "You can't carry that disappointment into today. Think of all the work you put in and what you can do as a team and they pulled it together, so I was happy."

With a match-up full of offence, both teams put up stellar numbers, however, it was Ook Rachel Mallett who stepped up to lead all players in kills with 28, well Lexi Gedny added 51 assists in the win. 

Across the net, SAITs Mia Delaquis would battle for 20 kills, adding 11 digs and two aces. Teammate and setter, Grace Florence would add 46 assists to the score sheet.

The match-up proved to be a tug-a-war with neither team backing down, exchanging point after point in a clash that would last over two hours.

With the Ooks up 13-7 deep in the fifth and final set, the Trojans would work to close the gap by forcing their opponent to make errors and furthermore need to call a timeout to regroup. Mallett's crosscourt kill would paint the line to bring the Ooks to match point. Wanting to keep their season alive the Trojans would make one final push, but it would be too little too late as a block on Mallett would go out, end the game and their season.

"We need to rest," added Russo Thorpe. "We want to end on a high point, so I think that will fuel them for tomorrow.

With one final match to play and plenty of pride to play for, the Ooks will take to the court at 1:00 PM MST tomorrow afternoon at Augustana Gym.