By: Pedro Casellatto

Welland, ON - The Centennial Women's Volleyball team fought hard, but they had their last game of the season after a loss to the Niagara Knights. They rode to Niagara for their first game of the playoffs, but after struggling to find momentum, they had their season cut shorter than they were expecting.

After the game, the head coach, Andrew Mallory, mentioned that, given the results they had last year, this season was successful. There were goals they still wished to achieve, but there are lots to be celebrated. "We finish the season with our heads up, and hungry for what is coming next," finished Mallory.

The expectations were high for this game. The Colts had a good season compared to last year, and they were hoping to have the chance to make it to the final eight. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the Knights came out prepared to not let that spot slip out of their hands.

The Colts started the game at a slow pace, making more unforced errors than usual and giving away points in all possible forms. Additionally, important players on the Colts' side could not perform well, which led to many transition opportunities being wasted. At the same time, the Knights were effective in their side-outs and transitions, especially through their middles.

Down two sets, the Colts were forced to react, and with a lot of energy and motivation, they worked together to not let the game end in three. Service was key to stopping the Knights' side-out. It was a close call, but the Colts took the third set 27-25.

In the fourth and final set of the game, the Knights came back organized. They stacked up their reception line and were effective in keeping the ball up. With a five-point gap, the Knights closed the game and moved on to the next round, while the Colts finished their last game of the year.

We would like to thank the hard work and dedication of the Centennial Women's Volleyball team. They overcame many obstacles and fought hard to gain their spot in the playoffs, taking Centennial's name further each year. While they said farewell to their 2023-2024 season, their contributions to the Centennial Women's Volleyball program were immeasurable, not only in terms of volleyball but also in terms of their perseverance, diversity, and inclusivity.