Both the Clippers women’s basketball team and volleyball team were ranked in the top 10 in the Canadian College Athletic Association after putting together a pair of stellar starts to the season.
The volleyball team sits third in Canada, while the basketball squad holds down sixth spot.
It marks the first time in history that two Briercrest teams have cracked the CCAA top 10 in different sports at the same time.
It’s been a quick rebuild for head coach Danny Vincent and the women’s basketball squad, as after narrowly missing the playoffs last season, the Clippers posted a 6-1 record through the pre-season before facing Ambrose University in their first two regular season games in Calgary during the Oct. 18 weekend.
There, the Clippers opened with a 90-66 victory after roaring out to a 24-7 lead in the first quarter. Returning veteran Amber Tilcox, who averaged 11.1 points last season, led all scorers with 25 points, while Sydney Segroves added 16 and Angenay Williams 15.
Both Tilcox and Williams also picked up eight rebounds each.
Things were a touch closer in game two against the Lethbridge Kodiaks, as BC only led by eight 40-32 at half, but the final result was still the same in an 87-71 victory. Williams scored 29 points and added 11 rebounds, while Brooklyn Martens picked up 17 points and 16 rebounds. Segroves picked up 15 points; Hope Jordens had 10 rebounds.
The Clippers are back in action Friday night when they host Medicine Hat College in their home opener at Margaret P. Reimer gymnasium. Game time is 6 p.m.
The Clippers women’s volleyball team, meanwhile improved to 4-0 this past weekend with a pair of 3-0 wins in Caronport, taking Friday’s contest 25-13, 25-20, 25-21. Becky Garner led the Clippers with 15 kills and seven digs, while Kirsty Kindrachuk and Mia Harder had seven digs each.
The rematch was much of the same in a 25-19, 25-20, 25-21 win as Garner recorded 15 kills to go along with eight each from Harder and Mikayla Benterud while Kindrachuk led the defence with 15 digs.
The Clippers are on the road for a pair of games this weekend as they take on Ambrose College.
The men’s basketball team opened their season during Oct. 18 weekend with a 92-80 loss to Ambrose and 112-77 defeat in Lethbridge.
Nicholas Gregersen and Brandon Tolentino had 16 points each for Briercrest against Ambrose, Chris Cheatham and Brolin Simes 12 points each and Carter Martens 11.
Against Lethbridge, the Clippers only trailed 54-47 at half, but were unable to keep pace after the break. C.J. Greer scored 18 for B.C. while Shayne Foster and Jude Shepherd-Hills added 12 each.
The Clippers also host Medicine Hat on Friday, with their game following the women’s contest around 8 p.m.
The Clippers’ men’s volleyball team improved to 3-1 and moved into second place in the South Division after a pair of wins in Medicine Hat.
Briercrest won the opener 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-13), riding a 12-kill showing from Karym Coleman to the win. Bryton Codd added nine kills, Brady Watchel eight digs.
The rematch saw the Clippers drop the first set but cruise from there to a 3-1 (25-22, 25-11, 25-15, 25-13) victory. Codd recorded 11 kills, Coleman eight. Watchel had solid game defensively with 19 digs, while Davis Borden picked 10 off the floor.
They are in action in Calgary against Ambrose this weekend.
The Clippers men’s hockey team is off to one of their best start in team history at 3-1-1-1 after defeating Portage College 6-3 and 4-3 in games at Barkman Arena in Caronport last weekend.
In Friday’s game, Caleb Grandfield had a goal and an assist, with single markers going to Halen Cordoni, Zachary Vanderwal, Tyrell Bourk, Jarret Marks and Russell Olson. Trey Doell, Josh Boelema and Josiah Friesen had two assists each.
Dan Deckoning turned aside 24 shots in goal.
Things were far closer the following afternoon.
Cale Kindrachuk scored on the power play with 1:06 remaining in regulation and Doell followed with the game winner 4:11 into overtime. Doell added two assists, while Vanderwal and Olson had their other markers.
Deckoning made 31 stops.
The Clippers sit in third place, two points out of first, as they head to Edmonton for a pair of games against Grant McEwen this coming weekend.
