OSHAWA, Ont. – The Durham College men's volleyball team booked a trip to the OCAA championship on Saturday night as they defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 3-1 in the qualifying round of the playoffs.
Set scores were in the match were 23-25, 27-25, 25-12 and 25-23.
This year's OCAA championship is taking place in North Bay, Ont. from February 23-25. It will mark the third straight season Durham is heading to the Final Eight provincial championship.
In Saturday's playoff qualifier, fans in attendance were treated to a great game with plenty of ups and downs for each side.
The Falcons came out with a 25-23 opening set victory, as their defensive front line seemed to frustrate the Lords big hitters in the early stages of the game.
In set two, despite blowing a 24-21 lead, Durham would come out with a win as they edged out the Falcons 27-25 to even up the match at one set apiece.
Riding off the momentum from the second set victory, Durham ran away with the third set winning by a score of 25-12. Dave McMann (Elmvale, Ont.) was dominant up the middle for the Lords as he recorded four blocks in the set.
In the fourth set, it looked as if Durham was going to run away with the match as they got out to a five-point lead. Fanshawe would claw their way back, trailing 22-20 late in the game. Despite a controversial call that pulled Fanshawe within one point, Durham closed out the set and the match winning by a score of 25-23.
McMann led all scorers in the match with 19 points, which included six blocks. Jordan McFarlane and PJ Cornelius recorded 11 points apiece while Steve Clarey had nine. Dan Popovich and Clarey each had 13 digs in the win.
Harrison Connell led Fanshawe in points with seven kills, three aces and three blocks.
Durham will now take on the hosting Nipissing Lakers (17-1) in the first round of the OCAA championship. The Lakers finished tied with the Humber Hawks for top spot in the West Region.
For full details about the championship, visit http://www.nipissingathletics.ca/ocaamvb/
Source: Durham College