The Niagara College women's volleyball program improved to 10-1 on the season, capturing a pair of weekend road victories over the Cambrian Gold Shield and Boreal Vipers.
The Knights defeated Cambrian (3-8) on Saturday, January 14th three sets to one with sets scores of 25-19, 11-25, 25-18, 25-22. First-year head coach Nathan Janzen felt "overall it wasn't our best game, but we worked really hard to earn the victory."
The Knights we paced by veteran outside hitter Rachel Rivers. The five-foot-eleven native of Cambridge finished with 22 points on 17 kills and five service aces. Based on the performance, Rivers who underwent off-season ankle surgery, appears to be rounding back into the same form saw her named an OCAA first-team all-star in 2015-16.
The team faced a short turnaround, as they visited the Boreal Vipers on Sunday afternoon. The Knights tested the depth of their roster, giving several first year players crucial on-court experience. "Our younger players did a great job in stepping up today" continued Janzen. "this whole weekend was definitely a team effort."
The Knights swept the Vipers 3-0 with set scores of 25-13, 25-23, 25-19.
Playing in her first match of the season, six-foot-one outside hitter Roberta Dunlap finished with a team high 11 points in the contest. Mackenzie Bailey, a first-year setter from Stoney Creek, was also given the opportunity to quarterback her first full game in the OCAA. She finished with an impressive 27 assists in just three sets.
Up next the CCAA's No. 11 ranked Niagara Knights will host the OCAA's third ranked St. Clair Saints on January 22nd at the Welland Athletic Centre.
