After suffering a tough five-set loss to the OCAA's number two ranked Redeemer Royals on Friday, November 30th, the Niagara College Men's Volleyball Program travelled Mohawk on Tuesday night looking to get back into the win column. The 6-3 Knights' put in one of their strongest efforts of the season defeating the OCAA's number five ranked Mountaineers 26-24, 25-19, 25-22.
Niagara Head Coach Nate Greonveld called the match "a hard fought back a forth battle all night."
Despite the straight-set victory, the first and third sets were very close. Coach Groenveld credits his team's strong "defensive intensity and composure as the difference in the close sets."
The Knights' defense was anchored by a pair of middle blockers Sam Youlton and Millar Galbraith. Both athletes stand six-foot-five, and have the ability to take over a game on defense.
Youlton, a fifth year Construction student from Chatham, Ontario was named an OCAA West Division Second Team All-Star in 2011-2012, and provides the veteran experience needed for a team to be successful. Galbraith a Construction student and native of Georgetown, Ontario has come into his own during the first half of this season.
Coach Groenveld was all praise when discussing Youlton and Galbraith's performance against the Mountaineers. "Our middles really set the tempo both blocking and attacking. Once again they gave us a chance to win with key stops and offensive points."
Offensively the Knights were once again led by fifth year outside hitter Shayne Petrusma. The Burlington native and Paramedic student, added to his OCAA West Division leading offensive totals, finishing the game with 14 kills and three stuff blocks.
The Knights head into the Christmas break with six wins, one more than they had all of last season.
The team has earned victories in five of their last six matches, and Coach Groenveld feels his team is "playing with a lot of confidence right now." The team currently sits in third place in the OCAA West Division.
With Niagara College hosting the 2013 Ironwood Wealth Management CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championships from March 7-9, excitement and expectations around this season's Men's Volleyball Program are very high.
The Knights return to the court on January 4th when the team hosts the annual Niagara College Men's Volleyball Invitational tournament.
Admission to all Niagara College Varsity Athletics is free, and all games are live broadcasted and archived at www.sportslive.ca.
