CALGARY Friday Feb. 19, 2010: Keyano College Huskies women’s volleyball team defeated the SAIT Trojans (18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 15-13) in the opening best-of-three Alberta College's Athletic Conference provincial qualifying playoff at the SAIT Campus Centre Gym.

Alannah Stewart led the way with 17 kills while Stephanie Jackson added 10.  Stewart, a 5-foot-9 first year left side from Fort St. John B.C., also had a remarkable five service aces and 10 digs!  Stewart was also named Player of the Match. Teammate Tena Brass had 23 digs.

Trojans’ were led on the attack by Daly Donaghy with 16 kills. 

"It was a bit strange for us playing at 3 p.m. on a Friday afternoon (Huskies usually tip off at 6 p.m.) but once we got over the jitters we settled in," said Huskies third-year coach Melissa Laluk. "We were down in the fourth set 13-2 and lost that (20-25) but came back focused for the fifth set and battled point-for-point (winning 15-13).

“Both teams were up and down and the winner tomorrow will be the team that is more consistent. We made good decisions today and just have to make a few small adjustments for tomorrow."

"That felt like work all night. It felt like we couldn't get anything going. We'd just get the ball rolling, and we'd fall off the wagon," said first-year Trojans head coach Diane Clarke as quoted on the Trojans official website. "It was very back-and-forth volleyball, but I wouldn't say it was quality on either side. One team would play well, and the other team would not; and then fortunes would reverse.

"Kudos to Keyano," added Clarke. "They were down by a ton, and they played really well. They deserved the win."

 The two teams return to the court tomorrow at 6 p.m. The winner of the best-of-three (third match Sunday Feb 21 1 p.m. if necessary) advances to the ACAC's provincial championship tournament, hosted by the Grant MacEwan Griffiths from Feb. 26-28.

Trojans’ Christine Issel, as reported in the Trojans website, was taken to hospital in the third set after breaking her nose in a collision with a teammate. She had five kills, two aces, three stuff blocks and two digs at the time of her departure.

Stewart leads way in opening match

Photo courtesy of Dan Lines