The Niagara Knights women's volleyball program (3-2, 6th OCAA West) will look to win their third straight matchup when they host the Redeemer Royals on Friday evening. After a rocky game against the Mohawk Mountaineers back on November 3rd, the Knights bounced back by winning both of their home matchups against the Cambrian Golden Shield and the Boreal Vipers last weekend.
Redeemer is 0-5 on the season, which places them in 9th place in the OCAA West. So far in the early part of the season, the Royals have yet to find the winning side of a set, dropping all 15 that they have played.
The Knights and the Royals have a dated history against one another, one where the Knights have the advantage. Since 1994, the two opponents have squared off a total of 45 times, with the Knights leading the way with a 33-12 record against their divisional counterpart. In those 45 matches, the Knights have won 107 sets to Redeemer's 66. At home against Redeemer, Niagara has an 18-4 record.
So far this season, the Knights are averaging 9.83 kills per set with a .296 hitting percentage. The Royals are entering the matchup averaging 7.00 kills per set on a .126 hitting percentage, so the Knights have the slight offensive advantage coming in.
Jordan Koslowski (Hamilton) will look to extend her two brand new Niagara Knights career records that she has set so far this season. First, Koslowski broke the career points records for the Knights which was previously marked at 679 set by Tracy Smith in 2005. In the last matchup against Boreal last Sunday, Koslowski broke her second career record, shattering Heidi Bench's record of 546 kills that had been around since 2003. Koslowski now owns both records entering this contest, having 712 points and 556 kills.
Montanna Taylor (St. Catharines) is off to a fantastic start to her Niagara Knights career. The local recruit has taken over the starting role as the Knights setter and she hasn't disappointed. Through five matches, Taylor is averaging 6.33 assists per set which has helped the Knights offensive attack immensely.
The Knights and the Royals will battle it out at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre beginning at 6pm. The game will be streamed live on the goknights.ca website.
