December 2, 2023
WELLAND, ON: The Niagara College men's volleyball team (7-4) took on the top ranked visiting Fanshawe Falcons (9-2) Saturday night at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre at Welland Campus. The Knights unfortunately went on to lose 3-1 (Set scores were 18-25, 25-13, 21-25 and 21-25).
After losing the opening set, the Knights battled back to win a dominant second set before losing the final two sets of the match. Micah Nieuwets, yet again, showed grit and determination as a leader on this Knights team contributing 13 kills, 8 digs, 1 block and an assist. Carter Thurman, another Knights leader, provided the team with an outstanding 29 assists, 11 digs, 1 block and 1 kill. Elijah Bugiardini added in 8 kills and 7 digs, while Ashton Nieuwets and Matthew Takacs chipped in with 6 kills each and a combined 14 digs.
Speaking with Knights head coach Steve Stone after the game, he emphasized that it was a "tough way to end the first term but the boys competed and were in every set today." A "few points and opportunities to be cleaned up and those sets can go a different when" when asked about the 3rd and 4th sets, Stone continued to say "that's a tough team on the other side of the net and it was a good battle."
The Knights head into the winter break currently sitting in 4th place with a 7-4 record. When the season restarts in 2024, the Knights open with a home game at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre at Welland Campus against the Humber Hawks (10-0) on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 8:00pm.
