Trojans send Clippers packing in 5

CALGARY, ALTA., (Jan. 10, 2020) - There were some ups. There were some downs.  But in the end, the SAIT Trojans men's volleyball team emerged victorious.

Playing in their first game of the second semester, the Trojans defeated the Briercrest College Clippers 3-2 (25-17, 20-25, 25-21, 14-25, 15-11) in Friday night Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) action played at SAIT's Campus Centre.

"I'm happy with our ability to stick to our game plan. It's something that we don't do consistently, but in the times that we did it we were able to get a lot of points from a really good team," said Trojans head coach Dallas Soonias. 

His team moves to 11-4 - good enough to sit atop the ACAC South Division standings. Briercrest falls to 8-5 to sit in fourth spot.

"The ups and downs of the game was all momentum," added Trojans assistant coach, Jaimie Thibeault. "Our side was completely in control at times, and the energy was on our side and they were quiet. And then they started to get going, got loud, and then our guys started to get away from our game plan. You can see the roller coaster, and that's why we ended up going to five sets."

While the Trojans captured wins in the first, third and fifth sets, it was the second and fourth that were dominated by the Clippers.

Down 2-1, Briercrest stormed back and owned the fourth set, winning it quickly 25-14.

"It was very similar to the second set, in which it got away from us early," Soonias explained. "It started with the initial actions of the game, which is serving and passing. Our passing pretty much fell apart, and we had our setter covering the entire gym. If we can shore that up a little more, the game is going to be a lot easier for us."

In the final set, it looked as if the momentum gained by the Clippers was going to lead to victory, as they got out to 5-2 lead. 

SAIT was able to claw their way back and tie the game at 7-7. The teams traded points until 11-11 before SAIT went on a four-point run to end the match - including two big kills by Tyler Latu'ila (5th year, Auckland, New Zealand, Bachelor of Business Administration).

Riley Grusing (3rd year, Calgary, Civil Engineering Technology) led the Trojans with 14 kills. 

Karym Coleman paced the Clippers with a game-high 23 kills.

The teams will finish their weekend set at 3pm Saturday afternoon at SAIT.