Championship Game - Panthers take OFSAA Gold 11.28.09

A little shot out to my alma mater Regiopolis Notre Dame!

from rnd-panthers.com

http://www.alcdsb.on.ca/~regiath/images/1OFSAAGold.mov

In a four set match in front of an electric crowd the RND Panthers showed true grit in a come for behind victory in the OFSAA AAA Boys Volleyball Championship game.
The Panthers faced a tough squad from Sir Winston Churchill in St. Catherines, who featured to of the best hitters of the tournament. RND came out flying in the first set winning most of the rallies. However the adrenaline may have caused some serves to go long and some passes off line as RND errors were the cause of the Panthers dropping their only set of the tournament.
The experienced CATS immediately rebounded in the next set, reeling off the first 5 points and dominating the net with several monster blocks on the Bulldog hitters. The Panthers quickly drew even winning the second set 25-12.
The Panthers again burst out to a lead in the pivotal third set only to see the Churchill group climb back to even late in the set. Leading 20-19 and with serve RND played it's best volleyball of the match, where several long rallies had the crowd on it's confidently closing out the third set 25-22.
With the goal in sight the Panthers stretched out another early lead in the fourth and final set. This time it was spectacular defence that saw Panthers flying all over saving big hits from the opposition and then cashing them into back-breaking points for the Garnet and Gold.
As the final ball hit the floor the players, coaches and fans exploded onto the court. The St. Mike's gym is RND's home away from home as the Volleyball program has sealed two OFSAA gold on the hardwood.
Too many congratulations for this web site as the RND contingent enjoyed the victory and the players received their medals.

LAURIER UPSETS #1 McMASTER 3-1

November 21, 2009


Ryan Hudson had 42 assists in the match. (Photo by Larry Skelly)
WATERLOO, Ont. – The unranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (2-5) defeated the #1 McMaster Marauders (7-1) 3-1 on Saturday.

Laurier dropped the first set to the Marauders 25-22, but started to find some cohesion with the new bodies back in the line-up. Middle John Wilson (Charing Cross, Ont.) and right side Cameron Wheelan (Barrie, Ont.) both returned to the line-up after missing the beginning of the season due to injury.

In the second the Hawks went point for point with the number one team in the country and then built up a small lead at the second technical timeout, 16-11. The Hawks held on to win 25-22.

With the confidence earned from the second, Laurier continued to pressure the visitors and had a key 9-1 run midway through the third to help them secure a 25-19 finish. Fired up, the purple and gold used the momentum to their advantage and built up a 15-7 lead in the fourth. Laurier finished strong with a 25-18 win.

The Hawks were led by Samuel Schachter (Richmond Hill, Ont.) who had 22 points on the night with 18 kills and four service aces. Cameron Wheelan was second on the team in kills with 11. Erik Kroman (Etobicoke, Ont.) picked up 46 assists on the night.

For the Marauders, Jeremy Groenveld (Welland, Ont.) had 16 points while Kevin Stevens (Winnipeg, Man.) earned 14.5.

McMaster is next in action on Saturday, November 28 at 1:00 p.m. when they host the Toronto Varsity Blues.

Source: Mike Whitehouse, Laurier Athletics.

CIS Top Ten Tuesday (#11): McMaster moves up to No. 1 in men’s volleyball

Nov 10, 2009

OTTAWA (CIS) – The McMaster Marauders are the new team to beat in CIS men’s volleyball as they climbed to the top of the national rankings for the first time in program history.

The two-time defending OUA champion Marauders, ranked No. 2 in the first three coaches’ polls of the season, knock off the perennial No. 1 Alberta Golden Bears, who fall two spots in the new rankings following a two-game split against Winnipeg.

McMaster, which swept Queen’s and RMC in straight sets over the weekend to improve to 6-0 in conference play, reach No. 1 for the first time in history. The Marauders enjoy a break in their OUA schedule this week and get back on the court on Nov. 20 against Waterloo.

The Golden Bears, who went 18-0 in the regular season a year ago on their way to winning a second straight CIS title, are off to a 4-2 start this fall. Last weekend, they dropped a 3-2 decision to the No. 7 Wesmen (2-2) before prevailing 3-1 in the second end of the doubleheader.

Alberta had topped the last 36 national polls dating back to November of 2006.

The Calgary Dinos (3-1) also leapfrog the Bears in this week’s Top 10. The Dinos are up one position to No. 2 after they swept No. 6 Manitoba (3-3), 3-0 and 3-1.

Rounding out the fourth poll of the campaign are No. 4 Laval (2-0), No. 5 Dalhousie (2-0), No. 8 Trinity Western (2-0), No. 9 Brandon (3-1) and No. 10 UBC (1-3).

1. McMaster (6-0) / 253.5 points / (2)
2. Calgary (3-1) / 239 / (3)
3. Alberta (4-2) / 220.5 / (1)
4. Laval (2-0) / 210 / (4)
5. Dalhousie (2-0) / 137.5 / (6)
6. Manitoba (3-3) / 128 / (5)
7. Winnipeg (2-2) / 115.5 / (9)
8. Trinity Western (2-0) / 103.5 / (7)
9. Brandon (3-1) / 76.5 / (8)
10. UBC (1-3) / 32 / (10)

http://english.cis-sic.ca/top_10_releases/2009-10/20091110-top10-11