Friday night saw the Welland Campus Athletic Centre host arguably the most entertaining display of CCAA Men's Volleyball of the 2012-13 season. After over two hours, and five marathon sets, the dust settled and the CCAA #5 ranked Niagara College Knights earned a dramatic victory over the CCAA #2 ranked Redeemer Royals. The sets scores for the match were 18-25, 25-19, 21-25, 27-25, 24-22.
With two of Canada's strongest volleyball programs squaring off, excitement heading into the match was high. The near capacity crowd was treated to an outstanding back and forth affair that saw both teams throw virtually everything they had at each other.
Niagara Head Coach Nate Groenveld described the match with one word "Wow." Coach Groenveld continued, "there were 221 digs between the two teams. That really shows how hard both teams played tonight."
The Royals came out strong utilizing their high level of athleticism and tremendous net defense to stifle the outside hitters of the Knights. The Royals cruised to the seven-point first-set victory riding the powerful attacks of fourth-year Surrey, B.C. native David Klomps. The six-foot-two outside hitter finished the game with 16 kills, one service ace, four stuff blocks, and 19 digs.
The second set saw the Knights shift their offensive attack to their pair of six-foot-five middle blockers. The Knights utilized a quick-hit attack strategy that seemed to give the Royals issue.
Coach Groenveld commented "our middles tonight were outstanding. Millar (Galbraith) and Sam (Youlton) got the job done point after point tonight." Galbraith, a Georgetown, Ontario native utilized his consistent serve, and stalwart net defense throughout the match. While Youlton, a fifth-year Chatham native, finished the match with 11 kills, four stuff blocks and seven digs.
Coach Groenveld singled out Youlton's performance calling the Construction student "a real athlete who has been fantastic for us all year. He took us on his back tonight, like he's done at times all season. Sam is one of the reasons we've stayed in some of our matches."
The third set saw the Royals respond with their own offensive strategy based around their middle blocker. Six-foot-seven Aaron Vanderlught was dominant for the Royals during the third set. Any time the Knights began generating momentum, Vanderlught responded with a seemingly unstoppable quick-set kill, or a powerful stuff block. Vanderlught finished the match with 14 total offensive points.
The fourth set is when the matchup's intensity and excitement began to escalate. Both teams utilized fantastic team defence. Late in the set, with the Royals up 21-18, the team seemed poised to earn a four-set match victory.
In an attempt to break the Royals momentum Niagara called a time-out. The tactic paid off and the Knights earned a critical side out which allowed fifth-year outside hitter Shayne Petrusma to score a pair of service aces which vaulted Niagara into a one point lead, and eventually a 27-25 fourth-set victory.
Niagara came out strong in the final set taking a 5-2 early lead. The Royals however battled back taking an 11-9 lead, and what seemed like control of the set.
With the capacity crowd on their feet for the majority of the final frame, spectators were treated to nearly 20 minutes of dramatic point for point exchanges that saw the fifth set extend deep into extra points.
Both teams had opportunities to end the match, yet desperation back court digs and strong offensive attacks stretched the set well beyond the 15 point scoring limit.
The difference in the match came down to outstanding late-match play by a pair of first-year outside hitters for the Knights. Six-foot-four Jeff Scott of Georgetown, finished the match with a team high 22 offensive points and also added 20 digs, while Kitchener native Bret Polfuss added 12 points and 20 digs, including a pair of late fifth set kills that gave Niagara the win.
Coach Groenveld was pleased with his team's performance, noting that the Knights "stayed aggressive in the service game and maintained composure" despite the magnitude of the match.
The win is sure to improve the Knights CCAA national ranking. The Program has been on a consistent climb since debuting on the top-15 list at #14 in early January.
Next week will see the Knights play back to back games on February 7th and 8th against the Mohawk Mountaineers (8-7) and Fanshawe Falcons (6-8). Coach Groenveld feels it is important for his team to "stay focussed in our next two games, because both teams are battling for a playoff spot."
With the team riding a 12 match winning streak, including victories over three teams ranked in the CCAA's top-ten, Coach Groenveld added "the big word we have talked about as a team all year during practice and in team huddles has been process. If we take care of process the results will come."
With the Niagara College set to host the 2013 Ironwood Wealth Management Group CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship from March 7-8, the Knights will receive an automatic entry into the event. Advanced tickets for the event are on-sale now and can be purchased by calling 905-735-2211 ex: 7583 & 7681.
For more information please contact:
Mike Puillandre
Niagara College Department of Athletics & Recreation
905-735-2211 ex: 7681
mpuillandre@niagaracollege.ca
