The 4-4 Niagara College Women's Volleyball Program lost a heartbreaking five-set match against the 3-5 Redeemer Royals on Friday night. The set scores were 23-25, 27-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-9. The loss moves the Knights to the .500 mark on the season in a three-way tie for fourth place in the OCAA West Division.
Niagara Head Coach Joey Martins called the match "a tough see-saw of a battle" that saw the first three sets all decided by the minimum two points. The fourth set saw the Knights win by three points, before finally losing the fifth and deciding set 15-9.
Coach Martins identified a "few untimely errors" as costing his team the match. The Royals were led by Curtiss Straatsma who finished the game with 23 offensive points and 16 digs
As usual, the Redeemer community was out in full force supporting their Royals women's volleyball team. The Royals are known across the OCAA for their passionate and boisterous fan base.
The Knights battled consistently all evening, particularly during the tight 'must-win' fourth set. Coach Martins noted "we definitely know how to fight with our backs against the wall."
First year outside hitter Kayde Bailey provided the Knights with a strong service game. The five-foot-eight Sport Management student recorded six critical service aces for the Knights.
The momentum generated by the Knights during their strong fourth set quickly evaporated during the final frame, as a series of hitting and defensive errors allowed the Royals to earn the victory.
The Knights' final game of 2012 is set for Tuesday, December 4th as the team travels to Mohawk to face the 4-4 Mountaineers. Coach Martins' feels that the game will be a "hard fought battle between two teams tied for fourth in the West Division."
The Knights return to the Welland campus athletic centre on Saturday, January 12th when the team hosts the Sheridan Bruins at 1:00pm.
