Following the regular season where the Ooks finished atop the north division, combined with a convincing victory this past weekend against the Lakeland Rustlers, the Ooks get set to host the ACAC Men's Volleyball Championships March 11-12.
Jordan Taylor, the men's head coach on the big victory this past weekend to advance to the final four, "we are ecstatic with our win versus Lakeland. We give our opponent a ton of credit as they battled until the very end and made us earn every point. I'm proud of our OOK athletes who faced some adversity early in the match but rose to the challenge. Our mental toughness and overall resilience to adversity was excellent. We weren't perfect, but we found a way to stay on process and execute our game plan."
The men's program has had some talented teams in past years, though often times came up short when looking to advance in the playoffs. This year has had a different feel about it, a new energy.
Taylor added, "for the MVB program here at NAIT, it is the first time since 2015 we have advanced to the final four, so I couldn't be more proud of our guys, especially for some of our seniors who get to experience a semi-final for the first time in their careers. Overall, it's a big accomplishment for us, but it's not the main objective of our season."
Ranked second in the nation, the men's team look to take full advantage of having their home crowd by their side this weekend.
Taylor, "finishing with the league's top record to earn the right to host I believe will be a big help. Our guys are comfortable in the NAIT gym and spent countless hours all season improving their craft on that exact court. We have yet to lose at home, so there is some additional confidence in our group with that piece. Lastly, the ability to sleep in your own bed is also an advantage that comes into consideration."
Semi-Final Friday, March 11th
Game #1
King's University Eagles (North #2) vs Red Deer Kings (South #1) – 6PM
Game #2
Briercrest Clippers (South #2) vs NAIT Ooks (North #1) – 8PM
Championship Saturday, March 12th
Game #3 – Bronze Medal Game
LG1 vs LG2 – 6PM
Game #4 – Gold Medal Game
WG1 vs WG2 – 8PM
If you plan on attending the action this weekend, make sure to arrive early as space may be limited. Food and beverage are permitted and concessions will be open.