January 21, 2013
M-VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: McMaster bests Waterloo in matchup of ranked teams
January 18 - McMaster @ Waterloo
In a showcase of the top two men's volleyball programs in the country on Friday night, the McMaster Marauders beat the Warriors in straight sets 25-23, 25-19, 29-27.
In front of 800 boisterous fans at the PAC, the Marauders showed their worth as the No. 2 team in the country winning the game changing points throughout. For the No. 9 Warriors, it was a case of making key errors at monumental points in the match, costing them tightly contested sets.
The first set opened as a seesaw affair but it would be the dynamic duo of Dany Demyanenko Jimenez (Toronto) and Alexander Elliot (Cobourg) that would make the difference for the team in maroon giving them the nail-biting 25-23 set victory.
McMaster continued their momentum into the second set, leading by a five point margin throughout until Waterloo would notch five straight points thanks to strong outside hitting by Fiodar Kazhamiaka (Waterloo) and Zachary Doherty (Goderich), tying the set at 17-all. Following a timeout by the visiting side, McMaster would come out firing once again, tallying six straight points to take a commanding 23-17 lead. The two combatants would exchange the next two points before Waterloo would commit one of their 15 service errors to hand Mac the set 25-19.
The third and final set would open with the teams going point-for-point before McMaster took a 24-23 lead late into the set. On Waterloo's serve the blocking duo of Doherty and Tyler Motherwell (Toronto/Warriors) would shut the door to even the score at 24-all. Both squads would exchange the next six points before another service error by the black and gold would put McMaster up 28-27. The Warriors would push the pass too far on the following reception putting them into scramble mode and they could not recover as McMaster would clinch the match 3-0 with a 29-27 final set win.
The win maintains McMaster's perfect season with a 12-0 record while Waterloo drops to 10-2 overall but remain comfortably in second spot in the OUA, four points ahead of Western.
Leading the way for McMaster was Demyanenko Jimenez and Elliot who had a 12 kills each while setter Austin Campion-Smith (Bowmanville) had 33 assists in the win.
Kazhamiaka led both teams in kills with 13 in the loss while adding five digs. Doherty was as effecttive on the right side with 11 kills and four blocks but would like to erase the six service errors committed in the match. Erich Woolley (New Dundee) was a digging machine with 11 while Scott Thomson (St. Marys) had 34 assists.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
Ryerson @ Toronto
The Varsity Blues men's volleyball team defeated the Ryerson Rams 3-2 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 16-25, 15-9) on Friday night at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
After going up two sets to none, the Blues dropped the next two before a commanding final set. Their fourth win of the 2012-13 campaign moves Toronto (4-8) one game back of Ryerson (5-7) in seventh place in the OUA.
The Blues quickly rebounded to open the fifth, taking a 4-1 lead. They would extend that to 8-3 into the break. Toronto closed out the match with three straight points, including a non-returned serve by Trevor Grant (Port Perry, Ont.) to take the set 15-9 and seal the 3-2 win.
Jonathan Adomait (Dundas, Ont.) spiked 15 kills, while Michael Denton (Scarborough, Ont.) notched 41 assists and three service aces. Mitchell Woodside added 11 kills in the win.
The first set started out as a back-and-forth exchange of the first eight points. The Varsity Blues would post the first real run, taking a 15-9 lead off five straight points. The big lead held up, as Toronto fought off two three-point runs by the Rams, taking the first set 25-21.
The Blues hot play continued into the second set, ripping off five of the first seven points. The teams would trade off separate three-point runs leading to a 14-9 edge for Toronto. The back-and-forth played continued as they traded 10 straight points. The Blues went on a three-point run before closing the set up 25-18.
The third set continued the pattern of tight play, with neither team gaining more than a point in the first 15 points. The teams would remain close until a three-point Blues run. Ryerson responded by pulling away with four straight points for a 19-15 advantage. Toronto came within one of the Rams, but Ryerson held on to take the set 25-22.
The two teams once again traded the first twelve points before the Rams opened up a 21-12 lead with a six-point streak. They would hold on to take the set 25-16, evening the match at two sets a piece.
The Varsity Blues next game comes on Saturday, January 26 when they host the No. 9 Waterloo Warriors (10-1) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
Source: Toronto Sports Info
York @ Guelph
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men’s volleyball team dropped a close match 3-1 to the York Lions tonight (Jan 18) in regular season action. The loss drops the Gryphons to 3-9 and bolsters the Lions to an even 6-6. The set scores were 25-22, 25-13, 20-25, 25-18.
Winston Rosser (Whitby, Ont.) led the Gryphons with 18 points on the night including 16 kills and two aces followed up by Tim Warnholtz (Guelph, Ont.) with 14 points (13 kills, 1 ace).
The Gryphon offence got off to a strong start following a fierce attack from Kyle Richards (London, Ont). Early contributions from Winston Rosser and rookie Timothy Warnholtz helped the Gryphons jump to an early 7-0 lead. However, the Lions were able to shutdown the Gryphons’ offence productivity with strong digs up the middle to cut the Gryphons’ lead to two. But York’s presence at the net was unable to hold Warnholtz back as he smashed three kills through the Lions blockers to hold onto the Gryphon lead.
The York attackers remained persistent throughout the middle stages of the set and were able to push through with the help of Ray Szeto (Sutton, Ont) and Gregory Ivan (Toronto, Ont) to take their first lead at 16-15. And, despite the momentum in the opening stages of the night, the Gryphons were unable to regain the lead as the Lions stole the first 25-22.
The Lions carried the tempo into the second as they established an early 9-2 lead. Felipe Humana-Parede (Toronto, Ont) and Daniel Dearing’s (Toronto, Ont) presence at the net was instrumental in thwarting the Gryphon offence to stretch the lead to nine as both teams headed into the technical time-out with York on top 16-7. While Winston Rosser and rookie Luke Woud (Uxbridge, Ont) maintained a ferocious presence at the net, they were unable to keep the Lions’ offence in check as the second wound down 25-13.
As the third set got under way, the Gryphons began to reestablish a cohesive attack in an effort to keep the Lions offence at bay. However, the Lions were determined to close the game in three and forced the Gryphons to climb a 3-point deficit to tie the game up at nine. The combined rookie forces of Jordan MacIntyre’s (Campbellville, Ont) defensive efforts from the back and Warnholtz’s attack at the net, the Gryphons were able to stretch ahead 25-20 after swapping points throughout to send the game to four. Warnholtz was able to rack up six kills in the third to keep the Gryphons’ night alive.
After letting the Lions mount an early 5-1 lead in the fourth, the Gryphons brought the game to two under the guiding service of Winston Rosser who was able to hit one of two service aces on the night. However, the Lions were determined to spoil the Gryphon comeback as they jumped ahead 16-9. The Gryphons were able to piece together an offensive front in response, but Ray Szeto reignited the Lions momentum to break out for a 25-18 win in the fourth to take a 3-1 victory to end the night.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
January 19 - Queen's @ Western
LONDON, Ont.- Coming off of a victory last weekend against the Windsor Lancers, the Western Mustangs men’s volleyball team stepped back onto the court this afternoon to challenge the Queen’s Gaels who sit just under the third place Mustangs in the OUA standings.
However, after the Mustangs 3-0 victory against the Gaels, the will continue to trail in the standings, while the Mustangs improve their record to 9-2.
The set scores were 25-15, 25-16, 25-18
After the game, Mustangs head coach Jim Sage said he was surprised how quickly the game went.
“I expected a little bit more battle from them. It’s a big rivalry that my guys get up for,” he said. “I think it was our most complete match of the year. I think that we are starting to put things together—it’s a good time, and things are rolling well.
“Jack Creaghan came in [...] he was an irregular starter and I think he did a great job,” he continued.
Leading the Mustangs was Garrett May with a game high of 15 points with 15 kills on 21 attempts. Fourth-year Alan Screaton followed behind with eight points and eight digs.
The game started well for the Mustangs who earned the first point, followed by another eight to take a commanding lead. Left side May found his stride early, and the Queen’s defense was unable to respond, allowing the Mustangs to surge to a quick 16-6 lead by the technical time out.
Although the Gaels managed to score four points, the Mustangs quickly found their game once again. Hustling around the court was setter Sean McKay who was saving the ball at all costs. And it proved to be valuable as his team hung on for the 25-15 set win.
The second set began as a point for point affair with neither team able to gain the momentum. But before long Western once again found their rhythm, forcing Queen’s to call a timeout.
Maintaining their lead, Western fought for every point to keep an edge on Queen’s. Strong blocking from middle Phil James helped Western gain a strong six-point lead. The Mustangs controlled the remainder of the set and it ended 25-16 in their favour.
Looking for the sweep, the Mustangs once again got off to a strong start in the third set. Thanks to powerful hitting from middle Creaghan, the Mustangs continued to lead the Gaels. The white and purple maintained consistency throughout the set and Queen’s could not overcome Creaghan’s blocking. The Mustangs took the third set 25-18.
Leading the Gaels was Mike Tomlinson with a team high of 6.5 points, followed by Ivo Dramov who earned 10 digs.
Source: Western Sports Info
RMC @ Windsor
WINDSOR, Ont.- The Windsor Lancers men's volleyball team returned to the win column on Saturday afternoon at the St. Denis Centre, notching a straight sets (25-12, 25-17, 25-20) victory over the RMC Paladins.
The Lancers improve to 3-8 on the season, while the Paladins (0-12) remain winless so far in conference play. Greg Simone was relentless throughout the contest, recording a contest-high 13 kills while working at a .435 efficiency for Windsor. Teammate Kyle Williamson picked up 11 kills and a game-high eight digs in the victory.
As a team, the Lancers maintained a .387 hitting percentage, compared to a paltry .068 from their Paladins counterparts. Windsor out-dug the visitors 33-18 en route to their third win of the year. The men have moved into eighth place for the time being, and were within two victories of fifth place as of Saturday afternoon.
Source: Windsor Sports Info
York @ Waterloo
A night after an emotional defeat to the McMaster Marauders the Warriors were back to the PAC to face the York Lions and for the second straight night the match did not lack the dramatics as the Warriors came out on top. Waterloo prevailed in a thrilling five sets of action 3-2 (25-15, 26-28, 23-25, 25-23, 18-16) over the Lions.
The Warriors showed their ability to win the close matches with their backs against the wall when York continued to battle and earn match points in the final set but Waterloo fended off the attack three different times to earn the victory. With the win, Waterloo improved to 11-2 on the season while York dropped to 6-7.
With York up 2-1 midway through the game Waterloo took a 22-18 lead late into the fourth set but the Lions would grab the next three points on serves by Marko Dakic (Mississauga) to come within one of Waterloo. Thirsty to take the set and match the Lions continued their strong defensive play but could not dig a perfect roll by Corey Yednoroz (Windsor) to put Waterloo within one of evening the match. Both sides would exchange points before Jordan Dyck (St. Catharines) put away a crucial kill from the middle to take the set 25-23 and send it to a thrilling fifth set.
The fifth and final set would be one for the ages as nothing could separate these two determined combatants. Tied 10-all, the Lions would notch the next three points to take a commanding 13-10 lead. Waterloo right side Zachary Doherty (Goderich) would stop the bleeding with a kill and a Lions error would bring the Warriors to within one.
The Lions would tally the next point to take a 14-12 lead and the finish line would be in sight for the visiting side. Unfortunately for York, Fiodar Kazhamiaka (Waterloo) had other plans putting away a huge kill followed by a double Warrior block to even the game at 14-all.
The Lions would earn two more match points but Waterloo continued to stave off the attack with ice and their veins and tie the game up at 16 apiece. The Warriors would earn their first match point following a kill by Doherty and Waterloo would make no mistake as Kazhamiaka would put away the smash to hand his squad the thrilling five set victory thanks to an 18-16 set win.
Ray Szeto (Sutton) was an attacking machine for the Lions, especially in the late going of the game with 16 kills in total. Szeto also added 10 digs and four blocks. Daniel Dearing (Toronto) was also a force on the right side with 14 kills in the match. Setter Paul Jakubiak (Toronto) finished with 37 assists in the loss.
For the Warriors it Kazhamiaka doing the damage from the left side tallying 15 kills. He also picked up five blocks, including the game winner and 12 digs. Yednoroz did a tremendous job coming off the bench with 14 kills in the match while Tyler Motherwell (Toronto) had 11 in the middle. Setter Scott Thomson (St. Marys) was a huge factor in Waterloo's come back with his 54 sets and several key dumps at critical points of the game. Defensively Erich Woolley (New Dundee) led both teams with 15 digs.
Waterloo returns to the road next weekend in a pair of matches in Toronto, first with the Varsity Blues on Saturday followed by the Ryerson Rams on Sunday.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
McMaster @ Guelph
GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons men's volleyball team dropped 3-1 to the visiting McMaster Marauders. The loss puts the Gryphons at 3-10 on the season while keeps the Marauders' streak alive for their 13th to go 13-0. Set scores were 26-24, 22-25, 17-25 and 17-25.
Winston Rosser (Whitby, Ont.) led all point getters tonight with 18 (15 kills, 2 aces, 1 block). Rookie Timothy Warnholtz (Guelph, ON) also tallied an impressive performance with 15 kills.
The first set got off to a shaky start with both teams swapping control of the scoreboard until the Marauders were finally able to pull ahead by two at 10-8. However, the Gryphon pressure at the net remained persistent to keep the set within reach. And, with the combined blocking forces of Phillip Wessel (Cambridge, ON) and Kyle Richards (London, ON) the Gryphons were able to set Winston Rosser up for six kills in the first to regain their lead at 18-17. The Gryphons were able to stretch their lead to three as the set entered its final stages with the Gryphons ahead 22-19. But a final surge from McMaster tied the game at 24 to force the advantage but Guelph held on to claim the first set 26-24.
The Marauders came out in the second intent to fix earlier mistakes as they charged ahead to take an early 8-5 lead. As the Marauders marched slowly ahead on the scoreboard to extend their lead, attacks from Andrew Whitaker (Sharon, ON) and Timothy Warnholtz swayed the momentum in Guelph's favour to once again enter the technical timeout behind by one. The Gryphons were able to tie the game at 17 with kill from Marc Wilson (Stratford, ON). However, the Marauders were able to re-establish their control of the court to take the second 25-22.
After a tight second set, the Gryphons came out slow in the third to let the Marauders mount an early 8-1 lead. Despite facing their largest deficit thus far on the night, the Gryphons refused to let up as Whitaker revitalized the Gryphon offence with consecutive kills to bring the game to within six. However, the last minute effort could not reign in the Marauder's momentum who were able to push through to take their second set with a 25-17 win in the third.
The Gryphons re-established their earlier momentum but were unable to piece together a consistent streak as the lead was exchanged sporadically throughout the opening stages. However, Tyson Alexander was able to piece together consecutive kills to ignite the offensive rhythm to pitch forward 16-12. Determined to push the game to five, the Gryphons were able to match the Marauders' intensity for the remainder of the set but were unable to close the gap as the Marauders' sealed the night with a 25-17 win in the fourth.
The Gryphons next travel to Toronto to take on the Ryerson Rams. The game is scheduled for 8:00 pm on January 26.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
Queen's @ Windsor
WINDSOR, Ont.- The Windsor Lancers men's volleyball team came within a couple of points of winning its second match in as many days, but the visiting Queen's Gaels rallied from two sets down to steal a five-set (25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 14-16) victory over the hosts at the St. Denis Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Williamson and Greg Simone combined for 39 kills to lead the Lancers, while Mike Tomlinson picked up a game-high 31 kills in the victory for the visitors.
The Lancers jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the opening set, forcing the Gaels to take a timeout in an effort to stem the momentum. The Gaels went on a streak of their own, and evened the set before either team reached double-digits.
However, a huge block by Kyle Williamson (Essex, Ont.) gave the home side a five point advantage, and they would take a 16-11 lead into the technical timeout. A serve by Andre Chelladurai touched the top of the net and fell just over onto the Queen's side for an ace to further extend the lead. After a couple of errors by the Gaels, a kill by Greg Simone (London, Ont.) clinched the first set for Queen's.
The teams traded points throughout the early part of the second, with the Gaels taking a minimal 10-7 lead. A kill from Adam Thompson notched the game at 11-11. However, the visitors would hold a 16-14 lead at the technical.
Some strong defence from the Lancers brought them within a point of Queen's, and after another kill from Simone evened the set, a big spike from Williamson gave them a 22-21 lead. On set point, Thompson brought his team to within one set of the match with another stuff at the net.
Once again, the team were fairly even to start the third set, but two straight kills from Williamson gave the home side a small lead at the technical. However, the visitors would not go away quietly jumping out to a four-point lead spread late in the set. Windsor rallied for four straight points on Blase Wasser's serve, as the sophomore painted the backline to even the set 23-23. However, Queen's would win the next two points, ending the set on a point by Mike Tomlinson.
Queen's jumped out to an 8-3 advantage in the fourth, prompting a timeout from Windsor coach Shawn Lippert. That did not stop the Gaels' momentum, as they never relinquished their lead, sending the contest to a fifth and final set.
An ace by Tomlinson gave the Gaels a 6-5 lead in the fifth, and they would hold that one point advantage at the changeover. Windsor rallied to even the game at 11-11, but Queen's would earn itself a match point minutes later, going up 14-13. Coming out of the timeout, Simone found some space between the blocks to even the game. However, the Gaels picked up another match point on the following play, and a block by Darren Edwards completed the comeback.
The Lancers will hit the road next Friday and Saturday, when they travel to McMaster and York respectively. They will return to the St. Denis Centre on February 1 and 2 in their final home weekend of the season, where they will host Toronto and Ryerson.
Source: Windsor Sports Info
RMC @ Western
LONDON, Ont.- The Western Mustangs men’s volleyball stepped onto the court after a victory over the Queen’s Gaels yesterday afternoon ready to take on the last place Royal Military College Paladins.
The Mustangs topped the Paladins in three straight sets for their second victory of the weekend, and their fourth win in a row. The Mustangs OUA regular season record rises to 10-2.
Set scores were 25-16, 25-13, 25-8
“I feel good about today’s game, it was great to get all my guys in because they work really hard in practice and they often don’t get the chance to play,” head coach Jim Sage said after the game. “I was really pleased with how they played—the game almost picked up when the starters came off.”
Leading the Mustangs was Mike Choja with a game high of 13 points with 10 kills on 12 attempts, followed closely by Garrett May who finished with 12 points and six kills.
The Mustangs started off slow as RMC managed to score early in the first set. However it wasn’t long before Western climbed back and evened the score. The teams rallied until May sent a ball over the net the Paladins could not return, beginnig a six-point run for the ‘Stangs. With the Mustangs stretching their lead to eight, the Paladins finally called a timeout in hopes of regrouping. But it wouldn’t be enough to solve the Mustangs as Western went on to take the set 25-16.
Up one set, the Mustangs carried their momentum into the second and picked up the early lead. While the game tightened and both teams batteled for every point,eventually Western’s tally began to rise.At the technical timeout Western was leading 16-7. The Mustangs would take the set 25-13.
The ‘Stangs came onto the court for a third time and surged to a ten-point lead. Leading by 11 at the technical time out, middle Choja helped hold the advantage with a service ace. Outside hitter Thomas Bednarik blocked RMC’s attempts, helping Western climb to a 21-7 lead, forcing the Paladins to call a timeout. But it would be of no help as left side Doug Austrom smashed the ball over the net to secure the set 25-8.
Leading the Paladins was Thomas McMullen with a team high eight points with five kills.
Next week the Mustangs will hit the road to take on the first-place McMaster Marauders on Friday, January 25, at 8:00 p.m., followed by a test against the York Lions on Saturday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Source: Western Sports Info
In a showcase of the top two men's volleyball programs in the country on Friday night, the McMaster Marauders beat the Warriors in straight sets 25-23, 25-19, 29-27.
In front of 800 boisterous fans at the PAC, the Marauders showed their worth as the No. 2 team in the country winning the game changing points throughout. For the No. 9 Warriors, it was a case of making key errors at monumental points in the match, costing them tightly contested sets.
The first set opened as a seesaw affair but it would be the dynamic duo of Dany Demyanenko Jimenez (Toronto) and Alexander Elliot (Cobourg) that would make the difference for the team in maroon giving them the nail-biting 25-23 set victory.
McMaster continued their momentum into the second set, leading by a five point margin throughout until Waterloo would notch five straight points thanks to strong outside hitting by Fiodar Kazhamiaka (Waterloo) and Zachary Doherty (Goderich), tying the set at 17-all. Following a timeout by the visiting side, McMaster would come out firing once again, tallying six straight points to take a commanding 23-17 lead. The two combatants would exchange the next two points before Waterloo would commit one of their 15 service errors to hand Mac the set 25-19.
The third and final set would open with the teams going point-for-point before McMaster took a 24-23 lead late into the set. On Waterloo's serve the blocking duo of Doherty and Tyler Motherwell (Toronto/Warriors) would shut the door to even the score at 24-all. Both squads would exchange the next six points before another service error by the black and gold would put McMaster up 28-27. The Warriors would push the pass too far on the following reception putting them into scramble mode and they could not recover as McMaster would clinch the match 3-0 with a 29-27 final set win.
The win maintains McMaster's perfect season with a 12-0 record while Waterloo drops to 10-2 overall but remain comfortably in second spot in the OUA, four points ahead of Western.
Leading the way for McMaster was Demyanenko Jimenez and Elliot who had a 12 kills each while setter Austin Campion-Smith (Bowmanville) had 33 assists in the win.
Kazhamiaka led both teams in kills with 13 in the loss while adding five digs. Doherty was as effecttive on the right side with 11 kills and four blocks but would like to erase the six service errors committed in the match. Erich Woolley (New Dundee) was a digging machine with 11 while Scott Thomson (St. Marys) had 34 assists.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
Ryerson @ Toronto
The Varsity Blues men's volleyball team defeated the Ryerson Rams 3-2 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 16-25, 15-9) on Friday night at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
After going up two sets to none, the Blues dropped the next two before a commanding final set. Their fourth win of the 2012-13 campaign moves Toronto (4-8) one game back of Ryerson (5-7) in seventh place in the OUA.
The Blues quickly rebounded to open the fifth, taking a 4-1 lead. They would extend that to 8-3 into the break. Toronto closed out the match with three straight points, including a non-returned serve by Trevor Grant (Port Perry, Ont.) to take the set 15-9 and seal the 3-2 win.
Jonathan Adomait (Dundas, Ont.) spiked 15 kills, while Michael Denton (Scarborough, Ont.) notched 41 assists and three service aces. Mitchell Woodside added 11 kills in the win.
The first set started out as a back-and-forth exchange of the first eight points. The Varsity Blues would post the first real run, taking a 15-9 lead off five straight points. The big lead held up, as Toronto fought off two three-point runs by the Rams, taking the first set 25-21.
The Blues hot play continued into the second set, ripping off five of the first seven points. The teams would trade off separate three-point runs leading to a 14-9 edge for Toronto. The back-and-forth played continued as they traded 10 straight points. The Blues went on a three-point run before closing the set up 25-18.
The third set continued the pattern of tight play, with neither team gaining more than a point in the first 15 points. The teams would remain close until a three-point Blues run. Ryerson responded by pulling away with four straight points for a 19-15 advantage. Toronto came within one of the Rams, but Ryerson held on to take the set 25-22.
The two teams once again traded the first twelve points before the Rams opened up a 21-12 lead with a six-point streak. They would hold on to take the set 25-16, evening the match at two sets a piece.
The Varsity Blues next game comes on Saturday, January 26 when they host the No. 9 Waterloo Warriors (10-1) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
Source: Toronto Sports Info
York @ Guelph
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men’s volleyball team dropped a close match 3-1 to the York Lions tonight (Jan 18) in regular season action. The loss drops the Gryphons to 3-9 and bolsters the Lions to an even 6-6. The set scores were 25-22, 25-13, 20-25, 25-18.
Winston Rosser (Whitby, Ont.) led the Gryphons with 18 points on the night including 16 kills and two aces followed up by Tim Warnholtz (Guelph, Ont.) with 14 points (13 kills, 1 ace).
The Gryphon offence got off to a strong start following a fierce attack from Kyle Richards (London, Ont). Early contributions from Winston Rosser and rookie Timothy Warnholtz helped the Gryphons jump to an early 7-0 lead. However, the Lions were able to shutdown the Gryphons’ offence productivity with strong digs up the middle to cut the Gryphons’ lead to two. But York’s presence at the net was unable to hold Warnholtz back as he smashed three kills through the Lions blockers to hold onto the Gryphon lead.
The York attackers remained persistent throughout the middle stages of the set and were able to push through with the help of Ray Szeto (Sutton, Ont) and Gregory Ivan (Toronto, Ont) to take their first lead at 16-15. And, despite the momentum in the opening stages of the night, the Gryphons were unable to regain the lead as the Lions stole the first 25-22.
The Lions carried the tempo into the second as they established an early 9-2 lead. Felipe Humana-Parede (Toronto, Ont) and Daniel Dearing’s (Toronto, Ont) presence at the net was instrumental in thwarting the Gryphon offence to stretch the lead to nine as both teams headed into the technical time-out with York on top 16-7. While Winston Rosser and rookie Luke Woud (Uxbridge, Ont) maintained a ferocious presence at the net, they were unable to keep the Lions’ offence in check as the second wound down 25-13.
As the third set got under way, the Gryphons began to reestablish a cohesive attack in an effort to keep the Lions offence at bay. However, the Lions were determined to close the game in three and forced the Gryphons to climb a 3-point deficit to tie the game up at nine. The combined rookie forces of Jordan MacIntyre’s (Campbellville, Ont) defensive efforts from the back and Warnholtz’s attack at the net, the Gryphons were able to stretch ahead 25-20 after swapping points throughout to send the game to four. Warnholtz was able to rack up six kills in the third to keep the Gryphons’ night alive.
After letting the Lions mount an early 5-1 lead in the fourth, the Gryphons brought the game to two under the guiding service of Winston Rosser who was able to hit one of two service aces on the night. However, the Lions were determined to spoil the Gryphon comeback as they jumped ahead 16-9. The Gryphons were able to piece together an offensive front in response, but Ray Szeto reignited the Lions momentum to break out for a 25-18 win in the fourth to take a 3-1 victory to end the night.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
January 19 - Queen's @ Western
LONDON, Ont.- Coming off of a victory last weekend against the Windsor Lancers, the Western Mustangs men’s volleyball team stepped back onto the court this afternoon to challenge the Queen’s Gaels who sit just under the third place Mustangs in the OUA standings.
However, after the Mustangs 3-0 victory against the Gaels, the will continue to trail in the standings, while the Mustangs improve their record to 9-2.
The set scores were 25-15, 25-16, 25-18
After the game, Mustangs head coach Jim Sage said he was surprised how quickly the game went.
“I expected a little bit more battle from them. It’s a big rivalry that my guys get up for,” he said. “I think it was our most complete match of the year. I think that we are starting to put things together—it’s a good time, and things are rolling well.
“Jack Creaghan came in [...] he was an irregular starter and I think he did a great job,” he continued.
Leading the Mustangs was Garrett May with a game high of 15 points with 15 kills on 21 attempts. Fourth-year Alan Screaton followed behind with eight points and eight digs.
The game started well for the Mustangs who earned the first point, followed by another eight to take a commanding lead. Left side May found his stride early, and the Queen’s defense was unable to respond, allowing the Mustangs to surge to a quick 16-6 lead by the technical time out.
Although the Gaels managed to score four points, the Mustangs quickly found their game once again. Hustling around the court was setter Sean McKay who was saving the ball at all costs. And it proved to be valuable as his team hung on for the 25-15 set win.
The second set began as a point for point affair with neither team able to gain the momentum. But before long Western once again found their rhythm, forcing Queen’s to call a timeout.
Maintaining their lead, Western fought for every point to keep an edge on Queen’s. Strong blocking from middle Phil James helped Western gain a strong six-point lead. The Mustangs controlled the remainder of the set and it ended 25-16 in their favour.
Looking for the sweep, the Mustangs once again got off to a strong start in the third set. Thanks to powerful hitting from middle Creaghan, the Mustangs continued to lead the Gaels. The white and purple maintained consistency throughout the set and Queen’s could not overcome Creaghan’s blocking. The Mustangs took the third set 25-18.
Leading the Gaels was Mike Tomlinson with a team high of 6.5 points, followed by Ivo Dramov who earned 10 digs.
Source: Western Sports Info
RMC @ Windsor
WINDSOR, Ont.- The Windsor Lancers men's volleyball team returned to the win column on Saturday afternoon at the St. Denis Centre, notching a straight sets (25-12, 25-17, 25-20) victory over the RMC Paladins.
The Lancers improve to 3-8 on the season, while the Paladins (0-12) remain winless so far in conference play. Greg Simone was relentless throughout the contest, recording a contest-high 13 kills while working at a .435 efficiency for Windsor. Teammate Kyle Williamson picked up 11 kills and a game-high eight digs in the victory.
As a team, the Lancers maintained a .387 hitting percentage, compared to a paltry .068 from their Paladins counterparts. Windsor out-dug the visitors 33-18 en route to their third win of the year. The men have moved into eighth place for the time being, and were within two victories of fifth place as of Saturday afternoon.
Source: Windsor Sports Info
York @ Waterloo
A night after an emotional defeat to the McMaster Marauders the Warriors were back to the PAC to face the York Lions and for the second straight night the match did not lack the dramatics as the Warriors came out on top. Waterloo prevailed in a thrilling five sets of action 3-2 (25-15, 26-28, 23-25, 25-23, 18-16) over the Lions.
The Warriors showed their ability to win the close matches with their backs against the wall when York continued to battle and earn match points in the final set but Waterloo fended off the attack three different times to earn the victory. With the win, Waterloo improved to 11-2 on the season while York dropped to 6-7.
With York up 2-1 midway through the game Waterloo took a 22-18 lead late into the fourth set but the Lions would grab the next three points on serves by Marko Dakic (Mississauga) to come within one of Waterloo. Thirsty to take the set and match the Lions continued their strong defensive play but could not dig a perfect roll by Corey Yednoroz (Windsor) to put Waterloo within one of evening the match. Both sides would exchange points before Jordan Dyck (St. Catharines) put away a crucial kill from the middle to take the set 25-23 and send it to a thrilling fifth set.
The fifth and final set would be one for the ages as nothing could separate these two determined combatants. Tied 10-all, the Lions would notch the next three points to take a commanding 13-10 lead. Waterloo right side Zachary Doherty (Goderich) would stop the bleeding with a kill and a Lions error would bring the Warriors to within one.
The Lions would tally the next point to take a 14-12 lead and the finish line would be in sight for the visiting side. Unfortunately for York, Fiodar Kazhamiaka (Waterloo) had other plans putting away a huge kill followed by a double Warrior block to even the game at 14-all.
The Lions would earn two more match points but Waterloo continued to stave off the attack with ice and their veins and tie the game up at 16 apiece. The Warriors would earn their first match point following a kill by Doherty and Waterloo would make no mistake as Kazhamiaka would put away the smash to hand his squad the thrilling five set victory thanks to an 18-16 set win.
Ray Szeto (Sutton) was an attacking machine for the Lions, especially in the late going of the game with 16 kills in total. Szeto also added 10 digs and four blocks. Daniel Dearing (Toronto) was also a force on the right side with 14 kills in the match. Setter Paul Jakubiak (Toronto) finished with 37 assists in the loss.
For the Warriors it Kazhamiaka doing the damage from the left side tallying 15 kills. He also picked up five blocks, including the game winner and 12 digs. Yednoroz did a tremendous job coming off the bench with 14 kills in the match while Tyler Motherwell (Toronto) had 11 in the middle. Setter Scott Thomson (St. Marys) was a huge factor in Waterloo's come back with his 54 sets and several key dumps at critical points of the game. Defensively Erich Woolley (New Dundee) led both teams with 15 digs.
Waterloo returns to the road next weekend in a pair of matches in Toronto, first with the Varsity Blues on Saturday followed by the Ryerson Rams on Sunday.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
McMaster @ Guelph
GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons men's volleyball team dropped 3-1 to the visiting McMaster Marauders. The loss puts the Gryphons at 3-10 on the season while keeps the Marauders' streak alive for their 13th to go 13-0. Set scores were 26-24, 22-25, 17-25 and 17-25.
Winston Rosser (Whitby, Ont.) led all point getters tonight with 18 (15 kills, 2 aces, 1 block). Rookie Timothy Warnholtz (Guelph, ON) also tallied an impressive performance with 15 kills.
The first set got off to a shaky start with both teams swapping control of the scoreboard until the Marauders were finally able to pull ahead by two at 10-8. However, the Gryphon pressure at the net remained persistent to keep the set within reach. And, with the combined blocking forces of Phillip Wessel (Cambridge, ON) and Kyle Richards (London, ON) the Gryphons were able to set Winston Rosser up for six kills in the first to regain their lead at 18-17. The Gryphons were able to stretch their lead to three as the set entered its final stages with the Gryphons ahead 22-19. But a final surge from McMaster tied the game at 24 to force the advantage but Guelph held on to claim the first set 26-24.
The Marauders came out in the second intent to fix earlier mistakes as they charged ahead to take an early 8-5 lead. As the Marauders marched slowly ahead on the scoreboard to extend their lead, attacks from Andrew Whitaker (Sharon, ON) and Timothy Warnholtz swayed the momentum in Guelph's favour to once again enter the technical timeout behind by one. The Gryphons were able to tie the game at 17 with kill from Marc Wilson (Stratford, ON). However, the Marauders were able to re-establish their control of the court to take the second 25-22.
After a tight second set, the Gryphons came out slow in the third to let the Marauders mount an early 8-1 lead. Despite facing their largest deficit thus far on the night, the Gryphons refused to let up as Whitaker revitalized the Gryphon offence with consecutive kills to bring the game to within six. However, the last minute effort could not reign in the Marauder's momentum who were able to push through to take their second set with a 25-17 win in the third.
The Gryphons re-established their earlier momentum but were unable to piece together a consistent streak as the lead was exchanged sporadically throughout the opening stages. However, Tyson Alexander was able to piece together consecutive kills to ignite the offensive rhythm to pitch forward 16-12. Determined to push the game to five, the Gryphons were able to match the Marauders' intensity for the remainder of the set but were unable to close the gap as the Marauders' sealed the night with a 25-17 win in the fourth.
The Gryphons next travel to Toronto to take on the Ryerson Rams. The game is scheduled for 8:00 pm on January 26.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
Queen's @ Windsor
WINDSOR, Ont.- The Windsor Lancers men's volleyball team came within a couple of points of winning its second match in as many days, but the visiting Queen's Gaels rallied from two sets down to steal a five-set (25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 14-16) victory over the hosts at the St. Denis Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Williamson and Greg Simone combined for 39 kills to lead the Lancers, while Mike Tomlinson picked up a game-high 31 kills in the victory for the visitors.
The Lancers jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the opening set, forcing the Gaels to take a timeout in an effort to stem the momentum. The Gaels went on a streak of their own, and evened the set before either team reached double-digits.
However, a huge block by Kyle Williamson (Essex, Ont.) gave the home side a five point advantage, and they would take a 16-11 lead into the technical timeout. A serve by Andre Chelladurai touched the top of the net and fell just over onto the Queen's side for an ace to further extend the lead. After a couple of errors by the Gaels, a kill by Greg Simone (London, Ont.) clinched the first set for Queen's.
The teams traded points throughout the early part of the second, with the Gaels taking a minimal 10-7 lead. A kill from Adam Thompson notched the game at 11-11. However, the visitors would hold a 16-14 lead at the technical.
Some strong defence from the Lancers brought them within a point of Queen's, and after another kill from Simone evened the set, a big spike from Williamson gave them a 22-21 lead. On set point, Thompson brought his team to within one set of the match with another stuff at the net.
Once again, the team were fairly even to start the third set, but two straight kills from Williamson gave the home side a small lead at the technical. However, the visitors would not go away quietly jumping out to a four-point lead spread late in the set. Windsor rallied for four straight points on Blase Wasser's serve, as the sophomore painted the backline to even the set 23-23. However, Queen's would win the next two points, ending the set on a point by Mike Tomlinson.
Queen's jumped out to an 8-3 advantage in the fourth, prompting a timeout from Windsor coach Shawn Lippert. That did not stop the Gaels' momentum, as they never relinquished their lead, sending the contest to a fifth and final set.
An ace by Tomlinson gave the Gaels a 6-5 lead in the fifth, and they would hold that one point advantage at the changeover. Windsor rallied to even the game at 11-11, but Queen's would earn itself a match point minutes later, going up 14-13. Coming out of the timeout, Simone found some space between the blocks to even the game. However, the Gaels picked up another match point on the following play, and a block by Darren Edwards completed the comeback.
The Lancers will hit the road next Friday and Saturday, when they travel to McMaster and York respectively. They will return to the St. Denis Centre on February 1 and 2 in their final home weekend of the season, where they will host Toronto and Ryerson.
Source: Windsor Sports Info
RMC @ Western
LONDON, Ont.- The Western Mustangs men’s volleyball stepped onto the court after a victory over the Queen’s Gaels yesterday afternoon ready to take on the last place Royal Military College Paladins.
The Mustangs topped the Paladins in three straight sets for their second victory of the weekend, and their fourth win in a row. The Mustangs OUA regular season record rises to 10-2.
Set scores were 25-16, 25-13, 25-8
“I feel good about today’s game, it was great to get all my guys in because they work really hard in practice and they often don’t get the chance to play,” head coach Jim Sage said after the game. “I was really pleased with how they played—the game almost picked up when the starters came off.”
Leading the Mustangs was Mike Choja with a game high of 13 points with 10 kills on 12 attempts, followed closely by Garrett May who finished with 12 points and six kills.
The Mustangs started off slow as RMC managed to score early in the first set. However it wasn’t long before Western climbed back and evened the score. The teams rallied until May sent a ball over the net the Paladins could not return, beginnig a six-point run for the ‘Stangs. With the Mustangs stretching their lead to eight, the Paladins finally called a timeout in hopes of regrouping. But it wouldn’t be enough to solve the Mustangs as Western went on to take the set 25-16.
Up one set, the Mustangs carried their momentum into the second and picked up the early lead. While the game tightened and both teams batteled for every point,eventually Western’s tally began to rise.At the technical timeout Western was leading 16-7. The Mustangs would take the set 25-13.
The ‘Stangs came onto the court for a third time and surged to a ten-point lead. Leading by 11 at the technical time out, middle Choja helped hold the advantage with a service ace. Outside hitter Thomas Bednarik blocked RMC’s attempts, helping Western climb to a 21-7 lead, forcing the Paladins to call a timeout. But it would be of no help as left side Doug Austrom smashed the ball over the net to secure the set 25-8.
Leading the Paladins was Thomas McMullen with a team high eight points with five kills.
Next week the Mustangs will hit the road to take on the first-place McMaster Marauders on Friday, January 25, at 8:00 p.m., followed by a test against the York Lions on Saturday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Source: Western Sports Info
