Aussie rookies aid SAIT in win over Olds College

CALGARY, ALTA., (Nov. 16, 2018) — The SAIT Trojans men's volleyball team was very efficient Friday night.

The Trojans needed the bare minimum of sets to beat the visiting Olds College Broncos 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-18) in their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game played at SAIT's Campus Centre.

"We had a couple of guys really pull us along tonight, especially Dan Cleary," said Trojans head coach Sean McKay. "Him and a few other guys like Alex Lyndon and Jeffrey Carreos did a great job of working together to get us through this game quickly."

SAIT moves to 6-4 on the year. Olds College falls to 0-10.

Cleary, a first-year Chemical Laboratory Technology student from Australia, had what McKay hopes to be a breakout game. The 6-foot-8 outside recorded a game-high 16 kills to go along with nine digs, three blocks and two service aces.

Lyndon, a setter and fellow Aussie in his first year at SAIT studying Information Technology, kept feeding his countryman all game, and their head coach had a lot of praise for the two afterwards.

"Dan and Alex play together in practice quite a lot and quite well – they seem to have a chemistry about them," he said. "The energy they brought to the court tonight was outstanding as well."

Thundersky Walkingbear led the Broncos with 10 kills.

The Trojans will now have the rest of the weekend off, as they prepare for a tough Medicine Hat College Rattlers team next Friday and Saturday night.

After two relatively stress-free wins, McKay will ensure his team is able to re-focus quickly.

"We hope the guys are motivated coming into practice, and still act like they are battling for starting spots," he said. "None of that is decided yet, so hopefully that means our practices stay at a high level."