By: Megan Daniels
Reporter

Celebration ensued both pregame and postgame for No. 6 Mountaineers women's volleyball, as they defeated the Boréal Vipères 3-0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-14) to conclude regular season play.

Prior to the match Mohawk celebrated 15 years of athletic and academic success by honouring their graduating athletes, which included Julia Watson (Burlington, ON), Grace Mazur (Hamilton, ON), Kaelyn Emslie (St. Catharines, ON) and Amanda Kuiper (Woodstock, ON).

Head coach Matthew Schnarr has been on a long joyful journey with those four athletes over the course of their volleyball careers, which is why it was only fitting that the win on such a special day also marked a historic moment. Schnarr has now won 166 matches as a coach at Mohawk, putting him in a tie for the most career regular season wins in varsity history at the college.  

As always the veteran coach put the spotlight on his athletes and credited them for their success.

"It's a good day when you get to celebrate four athletes who have done everything you could've asked from them," Schnarr said.

Watson, Emslie and Kupier all exited the match early and received loud cheers from family and friends. Mazur played in all three sets, providing nine kills.

But the credit from Schnarr was widespread across the roster.

"Ashley Gibbons (Hamilton, ON) has been working really hard for us and I thought she did a great job," Schnarr said.

"Abby Sanders (Fort Frances, ON) put in all the hard work and effort to get an opportunity to play which was great," Schnarr added.

First-year setter Stephanie Karatsolias (Milton, ON) was also impressive with 24 assists and four kills.

Mohawk concludes the season with an 8-1 record and are riding a five game win streak into playoffs.

The Mountaineers will host an OCAA qualifying round match on Mar. 10 at 6 p.m. Their opponent is still to be determined.