Jacob Mclarney, Olds College Athletics
Olds, AB – Olds College Broncos Women's Volleyball lost to the Ambrose University Lions in the Graduating Student-athlete Night in a dramatic five sets (23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15).
The game went off to an even start with both teams exchanging many serve points and rallies with very few forced errors. The game was tied at eight a few minutes into the first set and both teams kept it within one for the next few points. Even when the Lions were hitting well the Broncos were playing really good defense to force them to put the ball into tough spots which would cause some returns to be hit too far. The score was mostly determined from if the Ambrose could earn a kill or play good enough defense to try and make a strong return. Broncos were up 24-22 when Ambrose called the second timeout of the set to try and ice the server to win the point. The Broncos won the set 25-23 while displaying a confident tone going into the second set.
The second set had a very similar start to the first as the Broncos were in the game but just missing some of the fundamentals in their passing while giving the Lions defense a tough time when they played their usual game. After the Broncos brought back the score to eight each again. This time it was going to be difficult to bring the set back as the Lions were not making any easy points for the Broncos and with a couple new people in the lineup they were left with some questions offensively as the Lions were up 21-10 as the Broncos called their first timeout of the set. They had an extra notch of intensity post-timeout and they brought a few of the points back before the Lions sealed the set comfortably 25-15.
Intensity stayed the same on the Broncos side as they fell a bit behind halfway through the previous set but were definitely carried over the fight they had put up at the end of the second. The Broncos were leading the charge this set as they kept the Lions trailing by three to four for most of the start of the set. Even when the Lions brought it to 9-10 the Broncos kept putting the pressure with some great blocks and hits most notably by Avery Gammel, Janeen Pellat and Tabitha Martin and great defense all around especially from their usual attackers. The Lions finally tied the game up at 12-12 and took the lead 15-14 a couple minutes later. The biggest decider for the game was still both team's net game and ability to block and recover for tips and deflections. Mental errors were becoming rare and the Broncos never seemed more in control than when Ambrose was forced to call the first timeout of the set at 20-18 for the Broncos. The Lions brought it back even but the Broncos went on to score three unanswered points and a couple minutes later finished the set 25-23 after they called their timeout for the set with some stellar rallies in the last few points.
Set was tied for the 4th time at eight each with both teams fighting for the most important set so far. The Broncos decided to call a conservative timeout at 10-8 for the Lions most likely looking to dig deep and finish Ambrose early to be ready for their next meeting away. The rallies were starting to get shorter with Ambrose desperately trying to pull ahead and the Broncs keeping the game within reach. Near the end of the set the score was 20-15 for the Lions as the Broncos were playing well just were having trouble converting the last point or getting their blocks and passers in place as both teams were running quick offenses throughout the set. The Lions managed to take the set 25-20
Ambrose took the first point of the last set in a well fought rally. The points that followed also had a similar urgency to them with only the best plays taking the points as both teams showed how badly they wanted the win. The Lions had the lead for the start but they only took a noticeable lead when the teams switched sides at 8-4 a few minutes in. The Broncos eventually went on a run and brought the lead down to 11-10 with serve in hand. The front was doing a good job of getting in the right spots they were just having trouble getting their blocks in until Janeen Pellatt put in a game tying block at 12 each which made Ambrose call the first timeout of the set. After the Lions took the first point Tabitha Martin put in a solo block that tied the game back up again. The Lions proceeded to miss their hit with an attack error and continued to call their second timeout at 14-13. The Lions went on to take the 15th point with some conservative points being played beforehand with many tips on both sides and neither team were going to risk missing their hit at this point. The Broncos called their timeout and tied it up again but the Lions eventually took the win 17-15 with an amazing game played from both sides.
Players of the game for Ambrose was Maddy Williscroft with 17 kills, 11 digs, and two aces. And, the Olds College Pit Barbeque Player of the game with seven kills, a game high six blocks, and four digs was Janeen Pellatt.
Olds led the game in kills 49-47 and blocks 17-8 while Ambrose led the game in assists 45-33, service aces 7-1 and digs 59-53.
Tabitha Martin had a game high 17 kills and game high tying 16 digs, Avery Gammel has a team high 22 assists, Samantha Laboucan had the lone ace and Francesca Sandini had a game high tying 16 digs for the Broncos.
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