NORTH BAY, Ont. - The Mohawk Mountaineers defeated the Seneca Sting today to win the bronze medal in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Volleyball Championships at Nipissing University.

Mohawk won the match in four sets (25-15, 15-25, 25-17, 25-19).

Mohawk went ahead in the first set 10-6 and maintained that momentum to a 19-13 lead. Mohawk did not let up and easily took the first set. In the second set, Seneca jumped ahead 7-1 and then doubled the scoring gap to 14-7 in the second lopsided set of the match. The third set began with scores closer than the first two sets. However, Mohawk soon pulled ahead to a wide 22-11 lead. Seneca was unable to close the gap.

The fourth set was the closest of all with the teams exchanging points evenly. The set was tied early at 8-8 and Seneca soon took over with a three-point lead. Mohawk tied it up again at 19-19 and went on to force the win for the set and match.

Mohawk's Player of the Game was awarded to six foot four left side hitter Ian Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) who recorded 11 kills and four stuff blocks for 15 points. Teammate Justin Scapinello (London, Ont.) made 21 kills, one serving ace, and one stuff block for 23 points along with 10 digs.

Seneca's Player of the Game went to Peter Christian (Chatham, Ont.) with 12 digs and one serving ace for 13 points. Teammate Vladyslav Danyliuk (Vinnitsa, Ukraine) made five kills, one serving ace, and two stuff blocks for eight points.

Mohawk won the bronze medal last year and has now finished with a top three medal in six of the last seven OCAA playoff championship tournaments. Seneca has won two silver medals in the last three years.

The gold medal match begins today at 5 p.m. featuring the No.1-CCAA ranked and two-time defending OCAA champions Humber Hawks against the host Nipissing Lakers, who are in their first OCAA gold medal game.

Source: Nipissing University