With the 2014-15 OCAA regular complete, the Niagara College men's and women's volleyball programs are headed to the playoffs.
The women's volleyball program finished the regular season with an impressive 15-3 record, good enough for second place in the OCAA West. This was the first time the Knights had won 15 games in a regular season since the 2002-03 team finished 15-1. To top it all off, Niagara graced the CCAA national rankings multiple times, finishing the regular season ranked 10th, a program best.
On the court, the Knights put up some impressive statistics, individually and as a team. Niagara opened the season with a six-game win streak, only to end the season with a more impressive eight straight victories.
Individually, Niagara was led by standout outside hitter Lucy McLay (Stratford). She joined the Knights in September after graduating from Brock University. The public relations major finished the regular season ranked top 10 or better in most OCAA offensive categories. McLay finished with 2.72 kills per set, good enough for ninth in the OCAA and 35th in the CCAA. Her 42 service aces were fifth best in the province and the 0.66 service aces per set were ninth. The 226 points saw McLay finish sixth in OCAA rankings, a Niagara best since current Knights assistant coach Lindsay Murray had 237 points in 2011-12. Also adding to McLay's impressive season was her team high 160 digs.
Flying under the radar for the Knights was the performance of first year setter Bailey Davis (Georgetown). Davis finished the season ranked first in the OCAA in assists (560) and assists per set (8.38). To put into context how impressive Davis was, tops for the Knights last season was Kaylee Barber, who finished with 444 assists and 6.43 assists per set. Davis stands at five-foot-seven and is currently enrolled in Niagara College's recreation and leisure services program.
First year libero Kennisis VanSoelen (Orangeville) showed the OCAA her potential as a defensive specialist. The business administration major finished with 3.5 digs-per-set, good enough for ninth in the OCAA.
Collectively, the Knights ranked second in the OCAA in blocks per set due in large part to their two veteran middle blockers protecting the net.
Reigning Niagara College female athlete of the year, Alexandria Botelho (Stoney Creek) finished fifth in the OCAA and 22nd in the CCAA, with 0.71 blocks-per-set. Botelho stands at six-foot, and brings the Knights size and experience in the front court. Her previous high was 0.62 blocks-per-set recorded 2013-14.
Completing the twin towers is Tavistock native Nicole Schoonderwoerd. The former Niagara College female rookie of the year ranked seventh in the OCAA and 35th in the CCAA, with 0.65 blocks-per-set. Schoonderwoerd recorded a career-high six stuff blocks in a game against Humber on January 7th.
The men's volleyball program was just as impressive during the 2014-15 OCAA regular season. For the third straight year, the Knights have won at least 12 games and easily qualified for the OCAA playoffs. Niagara utilized home court advantage while playing at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre this season, finishing with an 8-1 record.
Similarly to the women's program, the men's program had multiple student-athletes ranked in the OCAA top 10 in multiple statistical categories.
Steve Stone (St. Catharines), playing setter for the first time at the post-secondary level, finished second in the OCAA with 591 assists and tied for the OCAA lead with 9.69 assists per set. On January 31, Stone had an OCAA season best 13.67 assists per set (41 assists) against Cambrian in a three set win.
Bailey Cochrane (Barrie), the reigning Niagara College male rookie of the year, led the OCAA last season with 3.69 digs per set. This season, Cochrane continued his ball-hawking form, as the sales and marketing major once again led the OCAA with 4.30 digs per set, while also finishing at the top with 232 total digs.
Also playing stellar defence this season was former Guelph Gryphon Aaron Vanderlugt (Burlington). The six-foot-seven middle blocker finished fourth in the OCAA with 52 stuff blocks. His 0.80 blocks per set saw Vanderlugt finish sixth in the OCAA and 22nd in the CCAA.
As a team, the Knights finished sixth in the OCAA with 1.31 service aces per set. Third year outside hitter Jeff Scott (Georgetown) finished with 24 service aces ranking him fourth in the OCAA. The 2012-13 Niagara College male rookie of the year also ranked third with 0.44 service aces per set. Scott's previous season best was last season, set at 0.23.
With the volleyball regular season all wrapped up, the teams now have their sights focused on the playoffs.
The men's volleyball program will be on the road to play Trent University (11-7, 4th East) on February 21 at 12:00pm. The women's volleyball program will play a home game against the Algonquin Thunder (7-11, 6th East) on February 22 starting at 2:00pm.
