LONDON, Ont. - On Friday night, the Fanshawe men's volleyball team (4-2) defeated the Redeemer Royals (4-3) in a thrilling four-set match 25-18, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16. Fanshawe moves into fourth, right above Redeemer in the OCAA West Division standings. The Falcons are currently ranked 13th in the CCAA national rankings.

Fanshawe's Mathieu Poulin started the Falcons off right with three straight kills to start the game. Redeemer's tough serving kept them in the set but the Falcons attack overpowered the Royals defence. Fanshawe finished the set with 15 team kills and went on to win 25-18.

Redeemer came out on fire in the second set and forced Fanshawe to take an early timeout to regroup. With Fanshawe's Kyle Weber serving, the Falcons went on a run and closed the Royals six-point lead to just one. The teams traded points back and forth until 19-19 where Fanshawe pulled away and won the set 25-20 on a service ace from Poulin.

Redeemer was determined to put up a fight, and matched the Falcons point for point until Fanshawe's Derek Braun went back to serve. With the Falcons down by one, Braun served five straight, giving Fanshawe some breathing room. Redeemer wasn't ready to give up and battled back, eventually taking the lead 17-16, forcing the Falcons to take a timeout. After being down by as many as four, Fanshawe tried to come back but fell to the Royals 25-23.

Fanshawe let Redeemer make the errors to start the fourth set and took a 13-6 lead, driving the Royals to take a timeout. At one point, Redeemer was within six but couldn't get any closer as the Falcons dominated the set, winning by a final score of 25-16.

Fanshawe's Poulin scored a game-high 31 points including 24 kills, four blocks and three service aces. Braun chipped in with another 14 kills. Redeemer's Eric Heidbuurt had 19 points for the Royals.

Fanshawe plays again this Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. versus the Sheridan Bruins (0-4).

Source: Fanshawe College