QF2 - Clippers upend Ooks in upset win

It took just two games to get the first major upset of the Murray Chevrolet Cadillac 2020 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship. The Briercrest Clippers, seeded fourth in the south division, knocked off the north division champion and nationally ninth-ranked NAIT Ooks in four sets to earn a semifinal berth. 

“I'm thrilled that the guys, even after getting out to a little bit of a slower start, were able to respond,” said Clippers head coach Nigel Mullan.

Both teams took some time to settle in during the first set, as several unforced serving errors affected the momentum, but it was NAIT that eventually stabilized its game, riding the strong blocking of Mitch Lewington (fourth year, Architectural Technology, Perth, Australia) to a 25-20 opening set victory. But the Clippers made a series of adjustments after the opening set and took control of the match. Bryton Codd (second year, MA Leadership and Management, Belize City, Belize) began to heat up in the second set as the Clippers used momentum from a late set timeout to tie the match at one with a 25-18 victory. Codd finished the match with an incredible 34 kills. 

“We had to basically flip everything that we were doing because it just wasn't that game,” said Mullan. “We've had that talk throughout the year, so it wasn't an earth-shattering moment, but we did have to make some adjustments to what they were doing. It was exciting to see our guys respond to that.” 

The Clippers continued to roll in the third set, led by libero Brady Watchel (first year, BA Business Administration, Prince Albert, Sask.), who earned 28 digs in the match and ACAC Player of the Year Karym Coleman (second year, BA Business Administration, Belize City, Belize), who had 15 kills. The Clippers won set three 25-11 to take a 2-1 lead in the match. NAIT stayed in the game in the fourth set with great defense and solid blocking, but Codd’s attack was too much and the Clippers finished off the match with a 25-20 victory. 

“Our guys never went away, it's a team that very much plays for each other,” said Ooks head coach Greg Gulash. “They're a team that likes to wear their heart on their sleeve and go to battle for each other all the time. It’s a good group of guys that win or lose, they're in it and they're going to give you everything they have and that's what they brought.” 

Briercrest moves on to play Red Deer College in an all-south division ACAC semifinal at 6 p.m. on Friday. NAIT will take on The King’s University in consolation play at 1 p.m. 

Players of the game:

Briercrest: Bryton Codd
NAIT: Mitch Lewington