Box Score WELLAND, Ont. – The defending OCAA silver medalists will not be heading to the provincial championship in 2018 as the Niagara Knights beat the Durham College men's volleyball team in straight sets on Sunday afternoon.
 
This is the first time since taking over the program five years ago that a team led by George Matsusaki did not qualify for the OCAA championship. The last time Durham failed to qualify came back in 2012.
 
Set scores in Sunday's match were 25-17, 25-20 and 25-17.
 
Mitch Sawatsky had a standout performance for the Knights as he led all scorers with 16 points hammering down 13 kills, two aces and one block. Elijah Bugiardini was efficient converting on seven of 16 attacks while Ben Fillmore ran the offence with 28 assists.
 
Erik Janssen of Hampton, who played in his final match for the Lords, was Durham's top scorer with eight kills and one block. Janssen was the only Lord to score more than three kills as Niagara's defence was superb racking up 24 digs.
 
With a 10-17 overall record, this is the first time since 1998 that Durham had a record below .500. It is also the first time since 2008 that the Lords had less than 20 wins in a season.
 
Durham will now focus on building for next year during the offseason with hopes of returning to the championship in 2019.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 10-17
Conference Record: 9-9