OAKVILLE, Ont. - Sheridan Institute of Technology in Oakville, Ont. plays host to the 2013 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Volleyball Championship, beginning Thursday and running through Saturday.
Eight teams will vie for the OCAA title, including the host Sheridan Bruins and three-time defending champion Humber Hawks.
A total of 12 matches will be played in a span of three days. Following the OCAA awards banquet at the Oakville Conference Centre at 9 a.m., the OCAA quarter-finals will take place on Thursday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Losing teams will compete in the bronze medal quarter-finals on Friday, followed by the OCAA semi-final matches. The bronze medal semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday leading into the OCAA gold medal match.
Fans who are unable to attend the matches live can follow the proceedings via webcast. Visit the championship website for further information.
The OCAA champion advances to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Volleyball National Championship, taking place in Welland, Ont. next month. The host Niagara Knights automatically qualify; if Niagara wins the OCAA championship, the runner-up will also advance.
Here is a look at the OCAA quarter-finalists:
Algonquin Thunder (17-3, 1st East)
The Algonquin Thunder won their second consecutive regional championship and are red hot entering the OCAA championship winning 15 straight, the longest active win streak in the OCAA.
Not surprisingly, Algonquin has the league scoring champion on its roster. Fourth-year Ottawa native Philippe Yeldon averaged 5.1 points per set this season for a league-high 374 points. He also led the OCAA with 56 service aces.
Algonquin hasn't won a medal at provincials since taking gold in 2009. Last season, the Thunder lost in the semi-finals to Nipissing 3-0. Algonquin faces host Sheridan in Thursday's quarter-final.
Durham Lords (17-3, 2nd East)
The Durham Lords return to the OCAA championship improving on last season's third place finish in the East region.
Second-year player Bradley VanHartingsveldt (Newcastle) led all Lords with a 3.9 points per set average totaling 248 points. Of those points, an even 200 came on kills.
Durham has won six of its past seven matches, with its only loss coming in straight sets to East champion Algonquin. Despite having a record 14 medals in OCAA men's volleyball, Durham has not earned a medal since winning silver in 2006.
Durham faces three-time defending OCAA champion Humber in the quarter-finals. The Lords lost in five sets to Nipissing in last year's quarters.
Humber Hawks (13-5, 3rd West)
Humber's run of three straight West region titles may have ended this season, but the Hawks remain a team to be reckoned with having won eight of their last nine games. This includes a 3-1 win over Georgian to qualify for the championship.
Humber has a balanced attack, with three players averaging over 3.0 points per set, including third-year middle Matthew Isaacs (Pickering) who led the team with 114 kills.
The Hawks have the experience of three consecutive OCAA titles, as they look to continue their string of excellence in the post-season. Humber became the first OCAA team since 1983 to win a national championship last March.
Humber begins its quest for a four-peat against Durham on Thursday.
Mohawk Mountaineers (9-9, 6th West)
Mohawk struggled down the stretch to conclude the regular season, losing three of its last four matches. The Mountaineers did enough, however, to qualify for the post-season, and swept George Brown on the road to secure their berth in the OCAA championship.
Mohawk's offence runs through fifth-year right side Mo Sulaiman (Hamilton). Sulaiman averages 3.6 points per set, including 193 kills.
Mohawk rarely leaves the provincials empty-handed. Over the last seven OCAA championships, Mohawk has earned six medals, including back-to-back bronze.
The Mountaineers face cross-town rival Redeemer for a third time this season in the OCAA quarter-finals. In the previous two meetings, Mohawk won both in five sets.
Niagara Knights (14-4, 1st West)
The Niagara Knights have already secured a spot at nationals as tournament host. This doesn't mean they intend to be easy fodder for their provincial opponents.
Niagara had won nine straight before dropping its season finale at Humber in five sets. The regular season was a remarkable turn around from a five-win total in 2011-12.
Fifth-year outside Shayne Petrusma (Bowmanville) led all OCAA West players with a 4.0 points per set average, including 210 kills.
Niagara hasn't won an OCAA medal since taking gold in 2004. It opens against Nipissing in the quarter-finals.
Nipissing Lakers (12-6, 4th West)
This championship marks an end of an era for the Nipissing Lakers as they join Ontario University Athletics for the 2013-14 season.
The Lakers have won just one OCAA medal in their history as runner-up at the championship last year. They looked in great position to clinch a West region championship this year, until a three-game losing streak scuttled those plans. A straight sets win at Seneca secured Nipissing's berth to the championship.
Both Tyler Phillipson (North Bay) and Frankie Edgecombe (Elmvale) averaged 3.3 points per set for the Lakers this season.
Nipissing plays its third game of the season against Niagara in the OCAA quarter-finals. Both teams split the season series, with victories coming on the road.
Redeemer Royals (14-4, 2nd West)
The Redeemer Royals had their best finish in the standings in three seasons, as they look to win their first OCAA championship in school history. Fourth-year left side David Klomps (Surrey, B.C.) led the Royals averaging 3.4 points per set totaling 240 points.
Redeemer had an 11-game win streak at one time, but split its last four games. Three of its four losses during the season came in five-sets.
Redeemer lost both games against Mohawk, its quarter-final opponent, during the regular season. Both matches went five sets.
The Royals lost both their matches at the OCAA championship last year. Redeemer earned silver in 2011.
Sheridan Bruins (11-7, 5th West)
Host Sheridan had its ups and downs during the regular season, losing three of its last five matches.
The Bruins will take a 6-3 home record into the tournament. Sheridan is led by second-year right side Josh Butler (London) who led the Bruins averaging 3.9 points per set, including 219 kills.
A medal of any kinds would tie Sheridan with Durham for the most OCAA medals in men's volleyball. Sheridan hasn't won a medal since taking gold in 1994.
Sheridan host East region champion Algonquin in the quarter-finals. The Bruins lost both their matches at the OCAA championship last year.
OCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Championship Website: 2013ocaamvb.com
Thursday, February 21
OCAA Awards Banquet - Oakville Conference Centre - 9 a.m.
Quarter-Finals
Game 1 - Humber vs. Durham - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - Nipissing vs. Niagara - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Mohawk vs. Redeemer - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - Sheridan vs. Algonquin - 8 p.m.
Friday, February 22
Bronze Quarter-Finals
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 23
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 - 9 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5 - 11 a.m.
Bronze Medal Match
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 2:30 p.m.
Gold Medal Match
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 5 p.m.
- OCAA -
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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
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E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com