SHIELD HOSTS OCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
SUDBURY, Ont. - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is down to its final four in men's volleyball, with all remaining teams headed to Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ont., for the OCAA Men's Volleyball Championship.
Four teams from the West Division have survived two OCAA elimination rounds to make it to the Nickel City. This includes the West Division champion Humber Hawks, second seed Cambrian Shield, third seed Fanshawe Falcons and eight seed St. Clair Saints.
The OCAA semi-finals take place on Saturday, leading into Sunday's medal matches. The OCAA champion moves on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Volleyball National Championship in Niverville, Man., from Mar. 5-8.
Fanshawe (14-4, 3rd West) vs. Humber (16-2, 1st West)
Saturday, Feb. 22 - 3:30 p.m.
Here we go again. For the third straight year at the OCAA championship, the Humber Hawks and Fanshawe Falcons will engage in a bird battle.
The previous two seasons these teams met in the gold medal match with Humber winning both times at Fanshawe.
The reigning four-time OCAA champions feature All-Canadian fourth-year outside hitter Teyven Blackmore (Ottawa). The West Division Scoring Champion averaged 4.3 points per set on 187 kills, 32 service aces and six blocks in 16 regular season matches.
Fourth-year middle and OCAA First-Team All-Star Jayden Crowther (London) of the Fanshawe Falcons averaged 2.4 points and 0.50 blocks per set in 17 regular season matches.
This is the rubber match between these squads this season, with Humber winning the first meeting 25-18, 25-17, 25-23 in November, and Fanshawe returning the favour 27-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20 in January.
St. Clair (6-12, 8th West) vs. Cambrian (14-4, 2nd West)
Saturday, Feb. 22 - 6 p.m.
Cinderella is taking up residence in Windsor this month, as the St. Clair Saints have defied all expectations to advance to the OCAA championship as a bottom seed. They are now a win away from securing their first OCAA medal since 2015.
After knocking off East Division champion Georgian Grizzlies in five-sets, the Saints swept the No. 4 seeded Conestoga Condors in the quarter-finals. Fourth-year middle Zach Walls (Amherstburg) and third-year outside hitter Kale Wilkinson (Windsor) mirrored each other with 10 kills and 13 points each in the victory.
The Cambrian Shield are no strangers to this position, having won the OCAA bronze medal in consecutive seasons. The Shield showcase OCAA Rookie of the Year Sam George (Sudbury). George led all OCAA setters with 552 assists and an average of 8.76 per set during the regular season.
The Shield hope to use home court to their advantage. Cambrian swept St. Clair twice in their season series, winning 25-21, 25-20, 25-17 in October, and 25-21, 25-19, 25-21 in January.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/mvb25
Live Webcast: ocaa.live
Saturday, February 22
Semi-Finals
S-F #1: Fanshawe vs. Humber - 3:30 p.m.
S-F #2: St. Clair vs. Cambrian - 6 p.m.
Sunday, February 23
Bronze Medal Match
Loser Semi-Final #1 vs. Loser Semi-Final #2 - 1 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Winner Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner Semi-Final #2 - 3:30 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match
- OCAA -
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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
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E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com