Caronport, SK- October 18th marked the start of the 2019-20 ACAC volleyball season and saw the Briercrest Clippers taking on the Red Deer Kings on home court. 

The Briercrest men were ready to play and came out swinging in the first set, gaining an early lead. But Red Deer was not going to go down so easily and kept the score close throughout the first half of the set. Briercrest began to gain momentum, forcing Red Deer to call a timeout at 17-14. The Kings came back with a bit more fight, and although they closed the gap somewhat, Red Deer was not able to stop the Clippers' momentum and lost the set 25-21. 

However, the Kings started the second set with a determination to see a different outcome, unleashing the full extent of their skill to take an early lead on Briercrest which they kept throughout the set. The Clippers called a timeout at 18-14, and then again at 21-14, but were not able to stop the flow of the Kings, losing the set 25-17. 

Looking to keep the momentum going, the Kings began the third set same as the second. Briercrest was able to push back early, narrowing the Kings lead to one point and keeping the score tight, but was not able to keep up with the pace that Red Deer was setting. After forcing Briercrest to take two timeouts at 14-10 and 18-13, the King's took the set 25-18 and were seeking to make the fourth set a repeat of the last two.

But Briercrest was not finished and took the Kings by surprise early in the fourth set. The Clippers then took control of the set, maintaining the lead for most of the play. The Kings were able to draw close to the Clippers, tying the game at 19, but eventually fell to Briercrest 25-22, forcing a fifth set.

Tension was high as the fifth set unfolded, and Red Deer was able to gain the lead, up two points on Briercrest at the fifth set switch. Red Deer initially pulled ahead, making the score 10-7 and forcing a Briercrest timeout, but Briercrest was not going down without a fight, making a ferocious push to force a Red Deer timeout at 14-13. However, the break is what RDC needed, and the Kings won the set 15-13.

Making the presentation for the Player of the Game was Briercrest alumnus Blake Proudfoot. Player of the Game for Red Deer was #3 Tom Wass, with 51 assists, 7 digs, and 1 ace, and for Briercrest #11 Karym Coleman, with 20 kills, 4 digs, and 1 ace. Coleman commented, "tonight's game was not at the point we expected it to be. With that said, we are excited for this season because we are looking forward to great things from our team."