ETOBICOKE, Ont –- The Conestoga Condors (10-8, 5th West) opened day two at the OCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship with a five-set victory over the La Cité Coyotes (15-3, 2nd East), 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, and 15-9 at the North Campus Gym, Friday afternoon.
La Cité controlled the first set early on, as Michel Leblanc carried the Coyotes offence. Leblanc was able to push his teams' lead to six midway through the set following three straight points - including two straight aces. The Condors were able to fight their way back into the set tying it up at 19-19 thanks to some great blocking by Alex Bowden and Dylan Arndt. The teams would remain deadlocked before La Cité would go on a 4-0 run to take the set 25-22.
The second set was a back and forth affair with the teams trading kills on both sides. Conestoga was finally able to go on a run late in the set scoring five straight points leading to a Coyotes timeout. The Condors seemed to be in control hitting set point with the score 24-18, but four straight points by La Cite forced Conestoga to take a timeout. The break would prove to be just what the Condors needed as a kill by Kevin Duong would give them the set taking it 25-22.
The third set was tightly contested throughout with neither team able to build a lead greater than two early on. The teams were tied late in the set with the score at 20 before the Condors were able to build a small lead with two straight points. La Cité failed to tie the set back up and, Duong would again provide the final point of the frame on an awkward shot over the net that fooled the Coyotes defence, giving Conestoga the 2-1 set lead.
The Coyotes came out strong to open the fourth set taking a 5-1 lead following two straight aces by Leblanc. The Condors were able to fight back in the set tying things up midway through at 15 a piece. The teams remained close until two straight kills by Leblanc gave the Coyotes a 20-17 lead forcing Conestoga to use a timeout. La Cité would keep the momentum following the timeout going on a 5-2 run capped off by a Nicolas Pirnat kill to take the set 25-19 forcing a fifth and final set.
Conestoga came out strong to start the final set hitting the crucial halfway mark first off a kill by Kevin Duong giving them an 8-5 lead. A block by Condors Arndt after the team’s switched sides prompted a Coyotes timeout. A big kill by Wesley Lau put the Condors on match point with the score 14-8 as La Cite took their last timeout. Lau would cap off a thriller with a huge kill giving his team the 15-9 win in the final set.
Third-year outside hitter Alexandre Huard was named the player of the game for the Coyotes, finishing with 16 points coming off 13 kills, two aces and a block.
Fifth-year left side Wesley Lau was named the player of the game for the Condors, finishing with 23 points on 22 kills and one block.
Conestoga will now face the winner of Mohawk/No. 11 Georgian in the consolation final Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.