ETOBICOKE, Ont –- The No.1 Fanshawe Falcons (18-0, 1st West) punched their ticket to the OCAA Men’s Volleyball final with a straight-sets victory over the No.14 Redeemer Royals (12-6, 3rd West), 25-18, 25-22, and 25-18 Friday night, at Humber College.
The opening set of the match started out with both teams showing off their offensive attack, trading kills back and forth. Fanshawe looked to get Zach Albert going midway through the set as he scored four straight points for the Falcons. Back to back Royals errors gave the Falcons a 21-15 lead resulting in a Redeemer timeout. Those mistakes proved to be costly, as Fanshawe closed out the set on an Alberts’ kill taking the first set 25-18.
In the second, neither team was able to establish much of a lead with both teams going back and forth until the 16-point mark. Again it would be errors that cost the Royals, as three straight forced them to take their first timeout down 18-16. Redeemer would get thing close making it 23-22 but failed to pull things back even as Fanshawe took the set 25-22. The set point for the Falcons was not without controversy, however, as the referee originally ruled the point for the Royals as it seemed the Alberts’ hit went long. In a showcase of sportsmanship, a Redeemer player indicated he tipped the ball resulting in the point going for the Falcons.
The Falcons took control of the third set early jumping out to a 9-3 lead before Redeemer took a timeout. Fanshawe slowly built up their lead pulling ahead by nine with the score 19-10. A Cole Jordan kill put the Falcons on match point, which was soon followed up by a service error by Redeemer giving the Falcons the three-set victory.
Second-year outside hitter Brayden Stoffers was named the player of the game for the Royals, finishing with 13 points coming off 11 kills, one ace, and a block.
Third-year middle Mitch McFadden was named the player of the game for the Falcons, finishing with eight points on seven kills and one ace.
Fanshawe will now face the winner of Humber/Niagara in the OCAA gold medal game Saturday at 5 p.m.
Redeemer will take on the loser of Humber/Niagara in the bronze medal game at 2 p.m.