The Niagara College Knights men's volleyball team improved to 4-2 on the season earning a dramatic five-set victory over the visiting Fanshawe Falcons. The large crowd on hand at the Welland campus athletic centre was treated to a hard fought game between two top-ten ranked OCAA teams.
The Knights came out slow in the first set losing 25-23 to the high energy Falcons. Knights' Head Coach Nathan Groenveld commented that "the slow starts are something we are definitely working on" and that moving forward the team needs to play as well in the first set as they do later in the match.
The Knights played strong aggressive volleyball in sets two and three earning 25-20 and 25-17 victories. First year outside hitter Jeff Scott was dominant for the Knights. The six-foot-four native of Georgetown, Ontario finished the match with 18 kills, 18 digs, three stuff blocks, and one service ace.
Groenveld called Scott's performance "Just outstanding. He was our guy tonight. Anytime one of your guys finishes with 22 offensive points you know he had a great game."
In the fourth set, the Knights jumped out to a 14-8 lead. The Falcons however battled back led by veteran outside hitter Scott Wilson. Wilson, finished the match with 20 offensive points, including a pair of crucial service aces late in the fourth set, that allowed the Falcons to secure a 25-21 victory.
The final set saw the Knights return to an offensive attack that featured their outside hitters. Fifth year outside hitter Shayne Petrusma, finished the game with 12 kills, two stuff blocks, and 14 digs, including a pair of key fifth set defensive plays that kept rallies alive for the Knights.
"Those plays by Shayne in the fifth set, are exactly what we need from one of our veteran guys in that situation" commented Groenveld.
Strong team defense by Niagara paid off in the final set, as team managed to secure a 15-9 victory.
Groenveld felt that despite some slow play at times during the match the five set game "builds character and confidence. It's good to know we can win in a marathon."
The Knights will finish the 2012 calendar year with three straight road games beginning on Sunday, November 25th at St. Clair College.
Groenveld feels that "moving forward, we're starting to show signs of development as a team. Against Humber our middles won us that game, while tonight it was our outside hitters."
The Knights return to the Welland campus athletic centre for regular season play on Saturday, January 12th, at 3:00pm when the team hosts the Sheridan Bruins.
