OAKVILLE, Ont. - The nightmare second half start for the Sheridan Bruins men's volleyball team (5-8 OCAA) continued, after dropping a pair of weekend matches to Conestoga (3-1) and Redeemer (3-2).

Although they have now lost their first four matches to re-open OCAA West play, head coach Frank Pento is preaching patience and belief to his troops.

"We haven't hit the panic button just yet," he said. "The start to the second half hasn't done us any favours, but I think we're still capable of playing at a very high level. We're 0-5 in five-setters now, which I think reinforces that we can compete with anybody, but that we also need to execute better after 20, and take advantage of close-out opportunities when we get them."

Against Conestoga, the Bruins were extremely lethargic to open, dropping the first set 25-12.

They rebounded in the second, but found themselves in a 2-0 hole after a 26-24 loss.

The Bruins got on the board with 25-18 win in the third set, but could not maintain the comeback, falling 25-22 in the fourth.

Sheridan opened against Redeemer with a much greater sense of urgency, but dropped the opening set 25-23.

They gutted out a 26-24 second set and won the third 25-22, but couldn't maintain their level in a 25-17 defeat in the fourth.

Redeemer held a slim 8-6 lead at the changeover and maintained it with a 15-11 win.

In desperate need of getting back on the positive side of the win-loss ledger, the Double Blue will complete the home portion of their schedule when they host the division leaders from Fanshawe (11-0) on Jan. 24 8pm).