Match 5: VIU Mariners 3, SAIT Trojans 0
The VIU Mariners won their first match at the CCAA national champion with a three-set sweep over the ACAC champion SAIT Trojans; 26-24, 25-22 and 26-24.
Offensively the Mariners were well balanced led by Jeff Webb and his 13 kills. Carson Kitsul was named the player of the match and was dynamite out of the middle with nine kills, two blocks and two digs. All-Canadian Braydon Brouwer came alive with six monster kills and two blocks.
The Alberta champion Trojans played well, but were frustrated with the defence of the Mariners. Tyler Latu’ila was named the player of the match with 13 kills, five digs and a block. Spencer Coulter added 12 kills and six digs.
With the victory the Mariners will play in the bronze semi-final on Saturday at 12:00pm against either the Camosun Chargers or Titans de Limoilou. The Trojans on the other hand will play in the placement match against the ACAA champion St. Thomas Tommies on Saturday at 2:00pm. Neither team has won a set yet in this tournament.
VIU's Player of the Game: Carson Kitsul
SAIT's Player of the Game: Tyler Latu’ila
Match 6: Keyano Huskies 3, St. Thomas Tommies 0
The ACAC wildcard Keyano Huskies dominated the ACAA champion St. Thomas Tommies on Friday with a three-set sweep; 25-13, 25-18 and 25-17 to advance.
Power Radoslaw Brzozoski had a match high 11 kills and a pair of aces to lead his club to their first victory at the CCAA national championship. Justin Delorme was named the player of the match with 10 kills, two digs, had an ace and a block while Levi Brunner chipped in with six kills from the middle. In all the Huskies recorded 39 kills.
The Tommies struggled finding a groove with their offence. ACAA Rookie of the Year Christian Christie led his club with seven kills and Ryan Dickson had five. Fifth year setter Jonah Burridge was named the player of the match with three aces, two kills and nine digs.
The Huskies keep their hopes of a bronze medal alive and will play in a bronze semi-final on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock against either the Fanshawe Falcons or Cegep Saint Jean Geants. The Tommies will play the ACAC champion SAIT Trojans in the placement match at 2:00pm.
St. Thomas' Player of the Game: Jonah Burridge
Keyano's Player of the Game: Justin Delorme
Match 7: Fanshawe Falcons 3, Géants de Saint-Jean 1
The Fanshawe Falcons remain undefeated after an impressive four set win over the Cegep Saint-Jean Geants 25-16, 27-29, 25-18 and 25-23 and have punched their ticket to the CCAA gold medal match.
Offensively the OCAA champion Falcons had a balanced attack with an incredible 61 kills spread among seven players. Zach Albert collected a match high 16 kills along with six digs, two blocks and a pair of aces. The player of the match was Sam Otten who recorded eight aces, 14 kills and a dig. The OCAA player of the year Cole Jordan was outstanding as well with 11 kills.
On the other side of the net the Geants were stopped offensively tallying 37 kills. Mathieu Lassonde was named the player of the match with a team high nine kills, eight digs and a block. Vincent Couturier was solid as well with eight kills and nine digs while Simon Bilodeau had a match high 12 digs.
The Falcons will play in their first ever CCAA gold medal match on Saturday at 8:00pm and will face the Camosun Chargers or the Titans de Limoilou. The Geants will now fight for bronze in a semi-final on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock against the ACAC Wildcard Keyano Huskies.
Saint-Jean's Player of the Game: Mathieu Lassonde
Fanshawe's Player of the Game: Sam Otten
Match 8: Titans de Limoilou 3, Camosun Chargers 2
The RSEQ champion Cegep Limoilou Titans are going back to the CCAA gold medal match with a comeback five set win over the host Camosun Chargers in front of a capacity crowd; 25-17, 15-25, 19-25, 25-22 and 15-7.
Offensively the Titans collected 42 kills, half of them from the big right hand of Nicolas Fortin who tallied 21 of those kills. Etienne Belzile smashed nine kills and Xavier Leblanc-Martin tallied six. The player of the match was setter Ludovic Martin who quarterbacked the offence and recorded two kills, two aces and 11 digs.
The Chargers led two sets to one before the Titans started to come alive in the fourth set and forced a sudden death fifth. Jerome Cross was the main source of offence with a match high 28 kills along with two aces, six digs and three blocks. Eduardo Bida was named the player of the match with 15 kills, 11 digs and an ace. Matthew Bowers also contributed to the Chargers attack with 12 kills and nine digs.
Saturday night the Titans will play in their fourth straight gold medal match, still looking for their first title. They will face the undefeated OCAA champion Fanshawe Falcons at 8:00pm. The Chargers will have a quick turnaround and face a familiar foe, the VIU Mariners in a bronze medal semi-final at noon.
Camosun's Player of the Game: Eduardo Bida
Limoilou's Player of the Game: Ludovic Martin