Story by Sports Communications Student Assistants, Cass Davis & Joe Sangers
November 7th, 2022 ...WELLAND, ON - The Niagara Knights women's volleyball team secured their first victory of the regular season in their home opener on Friday. The Knights defeated the Fanshawe Falcons three sets to zero at the Welland campus. The set scores were 25, 20, 26-24, 26-24.
"It was what we needed," said Niagara College women's volleyball coach Tommy Sloan. "We needed to find a way to really get our season going." Despite the sweep, coach Sloan commented on the gritty nature of the game. "It wasn't super pretty, but we stuck to trusting what we came into do."
Natasha Desjardins was a driving force in the game - her first game back on the court after wrapping up with women's soccer last week in a bronze medal finish. The fifth-year autism behavioral science student from Welland Ontario was a force through all three matches. The 5"9 right setter recorded nine kills to go along with three aces, setting the tone for what's to come from Desjardins in her final season with the blue and white.
When asked about the return of Desjardins, coach Sloan had this to say, "We value having her back." He went on to add, "She clarifies what we want to do offensively."
Montanna Taylor continued her excellent setting game, The 5'9 paramedic major from St. Catharine's Ontario tallied 18 assists and five digs. She is averaging 2.25 assists per set in 4 games this season.
Madelyn Berg demonstrated stellar effort finishing with 11 digs. Madelyn is a 5"7 fourth-year business administration student that has recorded 17 digs so far this season.
This was a much-needed win for the Knights as they had dropped their first two games of the season to Humber, and Conestoga. The Knights are hoping this win can get them going in the right direction as they look to play Sheridan College (1-3) Friday, November 11th at home at 6:00pm.
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The Niagara college varsity program consists of 8 teams and over 120 varsity athletes. The Knights have captured 9 national titles in their program's history. Niagara College offers more than 130 diplomas, bachelor's degrees, and advanced-level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational, and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine science, advanced technology, media, applied health, and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture, and esthetics. Visit niagaracollege.ca.
