The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men’s volleyball season is down to the last eight remaining teams and the stage has been set for some of Ontario’s top collegiate players to compete for the Championship title. Humber College is set to host the 2006 OCAA Men’s Volleyball Championships from February 23-25 in Etobicoke, ON.

For the first time in OCAA history all eight schools competing at the Provincial Championships will be sending both their men’s and women’s teams. This equates to a huge surge of support for all teams when they hit the floor.

“The women will cheer on their men’s team, and the men will show great support for the women”, said Humber Athletic Director Doug Fox. “This will produce an incredible ground swell of enthusiasm”.

By winning the Central West Region title and going an undefeated 13-0 this season the Mohawk Mountaineers from Hamilton have earned the number one seed entering the Championship. The Mountaineers are currently ranked fourth overall in the country topping the list of Ontario teams. This year’s number one seeded team features the usual host of stars including Brent Carter the Central West top point getter averaging 4.2 PPG and the impressive ball distributing skills of setter and team captain Peter Sniuolis. A CCAA Athlete of the Month this year and second-team OCAA All-Star in 2004-05, Peter averaged 1.3 PPG this season. The Moutaineers last won the Men’s Volleyball Title in 1981-82.

The number two seed, and CCAA ninth ranked Fanhsawe Falcons from London finished the year as West Region Champions. The 2005-06 version of the Falcons dropped just one match during the regular season finishing with a 12-1 record. Youngster Justin Guerin led his team in points and earned the West region scoring title averaging 4.2 PPG in his first year at Fanshawe. The Falcons earned their last championship title in 1969-70.

The number three seed, Durham Lords of Oshawa will try to add to their already successful season, which saw the Lords win the Central East region title with a perfect 13-0 record. After earning two bronze medals from 2003-2005 the Lords will rely on their experience to climb the championship ladder. Leading the Lords into the Championships will be last year’s OCAA Player of the Year, Adam Schiedel. Adam’s recorded another impressive year averaging 4.9 PPG and becoming the all time career statistic leader in aces tallying 21 on the year bringing his career total to 76. Adam’s teammates David Crabbe (4.5 PPG) and Josh Bowen (3.1 PPG) will help lead the offensive attack. Durham’s last Men’s Volleyball Title was in 1995-96.

Entering as the number four seed, the Algonquin Thunder of Ottawa will be looking to win their first title since 1977-78. The Thunder closed out the season as the East region champions with a 12-1 record and will turn to Matt Marjanski (3.5 PPG), their top performer and veteran third-year ball distributor Dave Keo to lead them to the medal podium.

Despite a difficult rebuilding year the host Humber Hawks managed to claw their way back into the Championships to defend their title. Humber finished the year third in the Central West with a 6-7 record and earned their spot after upsetting the Loyalist Lancers 3-0 in a playoff match. The Hawks enter as the fifth seed of the Championship.

Number six seed, the Nipissing Lakers of North Bay were second in the Central West at the close of the season with a 7-6 record. Nipissing will turn to two outstanding hitters Seamus Strutt (3.8 PPG), a 04-05 All-Star and Eric Yung (3.5 PPG). The Lakers will be looking to win their first-ever men’s volleyball gold medal.

The Georgian Grizzlies from Barrie enter the Championship as the number seven seed finishing the season second in the Central East with a 9-4 record. Eric Talsma has had a terrific season, leading his team in points averaging 4.8 PPG and leading the league in kills and aces with 196 kills and 38 aces on the year. The Grizzlies have never won the Men’s Volleyball Title.

By winning their playoff match last week in a dramatic 3-2 come from behind victory the Seneca Sting of North York served notice that they are more than ready to avenge last year’s loss in the Gold Medal Game. Seneca finished the season third in the Central East with a 7-6 record and enter the Championships as the eighth seeded team. Seneca features the hard-hitting talent of this year’s OCAA Scoring Champion Brett Dailey (5.2 PPG). Brett has recorded a record-breaking season this year smashing two OCAA records including Most Kills in Match with 30 and Most Points in a Match with 39. The Sting is in search of their first Men’s Volleyball Title.

The Championship seedings are as follows:
1. Mohawk Moutaineers (Hamilton)
2. Fanshawe Falcons (London)
3. Durham Lords (Oshawa)
4. Algonquin Thunder (Ottawa)
5. Humber Hawks (Etobicoke)
6. Nipissing Lakers (North Bay)
7. Georgian Grizzlies (Barrie)
8. Seneca Sting (North York)

A complete championship schedule including game times and results will be available on the internet on the OCAA website at www.ocaa.com. To view the Championship website click here.

For more information on the 2005 OCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships, please contact Jim Bialek, Sports Information Director and Tournament Char at the Humber College Athletics Department at (416) 675-6622 X: 4539.

The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and campus recreation programs. It offers sixteen varsity sports to thirty member institutions throughout Ontario. For more information on the OCAA visit www.ocaa.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michelle Waddick
OCAA Communications & Marketing
Phone:(416) 426-7043
Fax: (416) 426-7308
Email: waddick@ocaa.com