PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Fleming College plays host to the 2020 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Volleyball Championship beginning Thursday.
In an rarity that has occurred only one other time before, last year's medalists repeated their podium positions from the season before. These three combatants will compete at provincials once again, including two-time provincial and reigning national champion Fanshawe Falcons, the two-time OCAA silver medalist Humber Hawks, and the two-time bronze medalist Redeemer Royals.
This trio will be joined by the Conestoga Condors, Durham Lords, host Fleming Knights, Georgian Grizzlies and Niagara Knights.
Four OCAA quarter-final matches take place on Thursday, leading to Friday's semi-finals. The semi-final winners advance to Saturday's gold medal match, while the losing teams play for bronze. There will not be a consolation round unlike past championships.
The OCAA champion and runner-up advances to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Volleyball National Championship in Fredericton from Mar. 11-14.
Redeemer (11-7, 4th West) vs. Durham (16-2, 1st East)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 1 p.m.
The championship will escalate quickly with the two-time bronze medalists taking on the top team from the East Division.
Durham was second in the OCAA only dropping 11 sets in 18 regular season matches. Third-year outside hitter Andrew Dube (Uxbridge, Ont.) led all East Division players averaging 3.92 kills per set.
Redeemer features third-year outside hitter Brayden Stoffers (Frankford, Ont.), one of only two players to average better than 5.0 points per set.
Durham's last OCAA podium finish was a silver medal back in 2017.
Fanshawe (9-9, 5th West) vs. Conestoga (14-4, 2nd West)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 3 p.m.
West Division rivals meet once again with a trip to the semi-finals at stake.
Conestoga had a strong regular season, led by the offence of first-year outside hitter Judah Verbeek (Elmira, Ont.) and his 3.9 points per set average. The Condors enter the championship winners of a half-dozen straight matches.
The reigning provincial and national champions may not be as strong as last year's squad, but can still be a factor over the next several days. First-year outside hitter Daniel Ridings (St. Catharines, Ont.) was the Fanshawe leader in kills per set during the regular season averaging 2.57.
Conestoga won both regular season meetings against Fanshawe, winning all but one set. The Condors have never medalled at provincials.
Fleming (10-8, 4th East) vs. Humber (18-0, 1st West)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 6 p.m.
The Humber Hawks are the lone undefeated team at provincials, winners of 19 straight regular and post-season matches, having lost just two sets all season.
The Humber offence generally runs through first-year middle Joshua Fadare (Markham, Ont.). He leads all Hawks averaging 3.9 points and 3.03 kills per set.
Home court was more than an advantage than not for Fleming with a regular season record of 6-2. The Knights feature fifth-year player Joel Howes (Sharbot Lake, Ont.) who led the OCAA averaging 0.95 blocks per set.
Fleming has only one OCAA medal in its history, a silver back in 1998.
Niagara (12-6, 3rd West) vs. Georgian (15-3, 2nd East)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 8 p.m.
You can call this quarter-final the rubber match.
Both the Niagara Knights and Georgian Grizzlies have met in the OCAA final eight each of the last two seasons, with both teams tasting victory. Last year's match went a full five sets, with Niagara pulling out a come-from-behind victory.
This match features a couple of premier setters. Niagara's Robert Zalewski (Ingersoll, Ont.) led the OCAA averaging 9.43 assists per set, while Georgian's Gibson Graham (Markham, Ont.) led the East Division averaging 9.13.
Niagara is five years removed from its last OCAA medal, a gold in 2015. Georgian has never medalled at provincials. The Grizzlies are the hottest team outside of Humber having won eight straight matches.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/mvb
Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/ocaalive
Thursday, February 27
Quarter-Finals
Game #1: Redeemer vs. Durham - 1 p.m.
Game #2: Fanshawe vs. Conestoga - 3 p.m.
Game #3: Fleming vs. Humber - 6 p.m.
Game #4: Niagara vs. Georgian - 8 p.m.
Friday, February 28
Semi-Finals
Game #5: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 - 5 p.m.
Game #6: Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4 - 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 29
Bronze Medal Match
Game #7: Loser Game #5 vs. Loser Game #6 - 2:30 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Game #8: Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 - 5 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student-athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 27 members sponsoring 12 varsity sports.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com