Notable Men’s Volleyball Performers: And then there were the FINAL FOUR...

Algonquin def. Humber 3-0:
After losing last year in the OCAA Championship Final, the Algonquin Thunder men’s volleyball team have been on a mission to be back on top of not only the OCAA’s league, but to once again establish themselves as National Championship contenders.

With a handy 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-19) defeat of the Humber Hawks at home, courtesy of an impressive and evenly balanced attack that saw Jonathan Sloane post nine kills, three blocks and two aces for a game high 14 points, the Thunder have taken one step closer in returning to the OCAA Championship gold medal game.

Having grown accustomed to being in the big show, the Thunder will have a familiar foe in their path in the Mohawk Mountaineers. Rekindle the rivalry with the Mountaineers that is second to none in OCAA modern history with be a serious test for the powerhouses from the East. Since the 2005-06 season the two teams have faced each other on three occasions, all with medal implications, resulting in two of the three matches going the five set distance. Last season was the exception when the Thunder lost in a 3-0 romp in the gold medal final.

Algonquin is dangerous from all positions and it might be a role reversal from one year ago this season, but with best of both teams sure to be brought out, it will definitely be a semi-final match to watch. The Algonquin Thunder have won four OCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship titles with their most recent title coming in the 2006-07 season.

How the Algonquin Men got to the Final Four:
Finished first in East Region, earned automatic bye.
Quarter Final: Defeated Humber Hawks 3-0.

Mohawk def. Durham 3-2
The Mohawk Mountaineers really know how to spoil a party, surviving a serious scare on Friday night and ending the Durham Lords men’s volleyball season in dramatic fashion 3-2 in quarter final action, preventing them from participating in the Final Four championship on their home court in Oshawa.

The Lords were on fire in the first two sets of the match as they won by set scores of 25-17 and 25-23 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Cue the comeback as Mohawk would find a way to turn things around as they bounced back with a pair of 25-19 wins to level things back up at 2-2. In the fifth and deciding match, it would come down to the wire with Mohawk finding a way to pull out a 15-12 set victory for the big comeback.

Mohawk will look to win their third provincial title in their last four seasons as they make the road trip to Oshawa. The Lords finish the year with an overall record of 21-8, making their first elite eight appearance since the 2005/06 season.

“I feel for them a little,” Mohawk coach James Bradley said. “They have a solid team. I know they’re very disappointed. It’s tough to be there in your own gym watching other teams play.”

Steve Pawelczyk paced the Mountaineers with 23 kills, five aces, eight digs and three stuff blocks. Ian Cameron had 11 points, while rookie Mohamed Sulaiman, starting at left side in place of injured veteran Greg Mousseau, chipped in with 10 points. “They came out hard and we were on our heels,” Bradley said of the visitors. “A couple of really questionable calls rattled us.”

Mohawk has six OCAA Championship titles and are the defending OCAA Champions and CCAA National Bronze medalists.
(with files from DC Athletics, Hamilton Spectator)

How the Mohawk Men got to the Final Four:
Finished second in West Region, earned automatic bye.
Quarter Final: Defeated Durham Lords 3-2.

Fanshawe def. Trent 3-2
Forget the Oscars... the real drama was in London, Ontario when the Trent Excalibur and Fanshawe Falcons went toe-to-toe in their quarter final matchup. Going the full distance, the Fanshawe Falcons managed to rally back to win the deciding set 15-12 and advance to the OCAA Championship Final Four in Oshawa.

It was a two man show for the Falcons, as Derek Howes and Matt Westman led the team with 19 and 15 kills respectively. Howes also recorded three aces and a block, while Westman added three aces of his own and four blocks. Derek Estabrooks also turned in a notable performance as he posted nine kills before adding two blocks and an ace in the victory which had set scores of 19-25, 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12.

Trent relied on their standouts, Ian Rettie and Wesley Sutherland and the pair did not disappoint as Rettie ripped 15 kills and an ace, while Sutherland nailed 12 kills of his own, before adding two aced and a block in the loss.

Fanshawe will now make the trip to Oshawa and take on the Seneca Sting, a team who has buzzed around the top of the standings for most of the season. Fanshawe has won one OCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship title dating back to 1970.

How the Fanshawe Men got to the Final Four:
Finished first in West Region, earned automatic bye.
Quarter Final: Defeated Trent Excalibur 3-2.

Seneca def. Loyalist 3-1
The Seneca Sting moved swiftly and stung the Loyalist Lancers less than a week after the Lancers dismissed the Redeemer Royal in a five set thriller in Ancaster. J.R. Sapienza was a dominant force for the Sting, as he has been all year, leading all hitters in the game with eight kills and two blocks for 10 total points. Evan Minshall matched his teammates total output with 10 points of his own coming from five kills, four blocks and an ace.

Despite their best efforts, the Lancers playoff run came to an end in North York as Matt Woods could only muster up a five kill effort against the stingy defense of the Sting.

The Sting will now square off against the Fanshawe Falcons in what should be an evenly matched affair in Oshawa. If the Sting should win their semi-final, it would be the first time since the 2004-05 season the Sting have been in the gold medal game. Last time they earned their spot in the final, they fell to Humber 3-0 and settled for silver. Seneca has never won an OCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship title.

How the Seneca Men got to the Final Four:
Finished second in East Region, earned automatic bye.
Quarter Final: Defeated Loyalist Lancers 3-1.