NORTH BAY, Ont. - The Mohawk Mountaineers defeated the Seneca Sting today during a hard fought opening game in the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) Men's Volleyball Championship at Nipissing University.

The game represented a rematch of last year's OCAA bronze medal game, which Mohawk won 3-0. Today's game was very close, featuring two very evenly matched teams trading points throughout. Mohawk took the first set 25-22. Seneca flipped that score for the second set, winning it 25-22, despite some spotty serving. The third set went to Mohawk 26-24. Seneca rebounded to take the fourth set 25-22, forcing a fifth game to decide the game winner. Mohawk emerged as the victor with a 15-8 win in the final set.

Mohawk, who finished the regular season in third-place in the West with a 13-5 record, was led by CCAA All-Canadian Justin Scapinello.

Philip Youngblut was named Player of the Game for Mohawk. Jon Houston, with 18 kills, was named Player of the Game for Seneca.

Mohawk has won an OCAA medal in five of its last six championships, including gold in 2008. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 14 in the CCAA. Seneca won back-to-back silver medals in 2009 and 2010.

Mohawk now plays the winner of the Redeemer-Humber match.

Source: Nipissing University