ETOBICOKE, Ont -- In the opening match of the 2019 OCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship at Humber College, No. 14 Redeemer blanked the La Cité Coyotes in straight sets, 25-18, 25-16, and 25-23.
The first set was back and forth throughout the first half with neither team able to build much of a lead. The Royals' Brayden Stoffers forced the Coyotes to take their first timeout of the match following a monster kill, putting the Royals up, 18-15. Redeemer (12-6, 3rd West) carried the momentum following the timeout throughout the second half, going on a 7-3 run taking the first set 25-18. William Winkelhorst led the way for the Royals in the opening set, putting up five points on four kills and one block.
Redeemer was able to separate from La Cite (15-3, 2nd East) early in the second set, going up 10-6 following an ace by Noah Bouius prompting La Cite to take a timeout. The Coyotes were again unable to regain momentum following the break, as the Royals continued their strong play. Redeemer built their lead to seven before La Cite took another timeout down 18-11. Redeemer put together another strong run to close out the second set winning it by a score of 25-16. Stoffers was a force his side in the second set, finishing with five points off three kills, one ace and one block.
The third set saw the Royals feed the ball to Stoffers repeatedly early on, as he had seven points off six kills and one block before the Coyotes called a timeout with the score at 14-13. The teams were all knotted up at 21 before a kill by Brady De Boer, followed by a La Cité error forced the Coyotes to take their final timeout. De Boer came out of the timeout and immediately followed up with another kill putting the Royals on match point. La Cité answered back with two straight points putting them down one before Winkelhorst closed out the match with an emphatic kill.
Fourth-year outside hitter Nicolas Pirnat led the Coyotes in the match, finishing with a team-high 14 points on 12 kills and two aces.
First-year outside hitter William Winkelhorst was named the player of the game for the victorious Royals, finishing with 13 points coming off 12 kills and a block.
Redeemer will now advance to the semifinal tomorrow where they will play the winner of the second match of the tournament between the Fanshawe Falcons and Conestoga Condors. La Cité was relegated to the consolation bracket and will play tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Opening serve for the semifinal match is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday night.