Lethbridge Kodiaks Sports Info
The King's University Eagles emerged as the 3-1 victors over the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings in a closely-matched and hard-fought game for fifth place Saturday at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Volleyball Championships at Lethbridge College.
"Augustana is always a really tough team for us to play and we expected a battle – and that's absolutely what we got," says Eagles Head Coach Grace Scott. "It was a point-for-point, back- and-forth game, with sets that went past 25. Both teams are very talented and have some all-conference players – so it was fun just to watch them battle it out."
When the teams met in conference play earlier this year, the Vikings defeated the Eagles 3-2 and 3-1.
On Saturday, the Eagles kicked off what would be a long and hard-fought first set with two quick points, but the Vikings quickly caught up, tying the score at two and three. An ace right on the line by Viking outside hitter Shae Boyes (fifth year, Rimbey, Alta., Bachelor of Arts – Physical Education), the ACAC North Women's Volleyball Player of the Year, took the score to 6-3 for the Vikings, which grew to 8-3 before the Eagles called a timeout. Each team exchanged points until they tied at 11, and then the momentum started to shift. The Eagles kept the lead for most of the second half of the set, going up by as much as 19-15. But the Vikings kept the pressure on and chipped away at that lead, and then held off multiple set points. After facing tied scores at 25, 26, 27 and 28, the Eagles took the lead again and won the thrilling set 30-28.
The second set started off with the teams exchanging points early on, until the Vikings went on a run and took an 8-3 lead. The Eagles responded in kind with a run of their own, tying the score at eight and nine points. The Vikings took a small lead in the second half of the set and maintained it throughout the rest of the set, although the Eagles kept the pressure on. A huge and hard-fought point the Eagles won cut the Vikings' lead to just 20-19, but the Vikings stayed focused and, with some big swings and solid digs, went on to win the set 25-22.
The Vikings started the third set by building a quick 7-3 lead, but the Eagles chipped away at that score, eventually tying it at eight and taking the lead for the first time at 9-8 before the Vikings called a timeout. The Eagles built their lead to 11-8, and a nice dump by setter Kylan Finseth (second year, St. Albert, Alta., Interdisciplinary Science), who was named to the all-conference team, took the score to 12-8. The teams stayed close throughout the rest of the set, and the crowd grew more and more raucous as the teams saw tied scores at 12, 13, 14 and 15, before the Eagles took a lead that would be as much as 21-18. The Vikings continued to battle, and a huge ace by Boyes that touched down on the back line gave the Vikings a 24-23 lead. The teams tied once more at 24 and 25, and the Eagles pushed on and won the set 27-25.
The Eagles started the fourth set up 7-3, but the Vikings battled back, bringing the teams close for the rest of the set. The middle part of the set saw the score tied seven times before the Vikings pulled ahead by two to go up 17-15, leading the Eagles to call a timeout. The battle continued with the teams tying at 17, 18 and 19 before the Eagles took a lead that would grow to 23-20 before the Vikings called a timeout. The Eagles went on to win the fourth set 25-22, and the consolation final 3-1.
Outside hitter MacKenzie Bruce (second year, Fort MacMurray, Alta., Environmental Science) was named player of the game for the Eagles, while setter Kari White (third year, Grande Prairie, Alta., Bachelor of Science) was named player of the game for the Vikings. In addition, Viking left-side hitter Emily Peterson (fourth year, Calgary, Bachelor of Arts – Sports Studies) was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Players of the Game |
Vikings |#16 Kari White
Eagles |#17 Mackenzie Bruce