Match 1: Fanshawe Falcons 3, Holland Hurricanes 0
In the opening match of the CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship, the Fanshawe Falcons applied a lot of service pressure, accumulating 15 aces, and downed the Holland Hurricanes in three sets (25-22, 25-21 and 25-10).
Sam Otten, from the OCAA Champion Fanshawe Falcons, applied pressure from the service line in the early stages, stacking up three consecutive aces and pushing his side ahead. Fanshawe maintained a three point edge throughout the first set, earning a 25-22 win.
The Hurricanes jumped out to a slight 8-7 edge in the second set which was backed by a pair of kills from Riley O'Keefe. Momentum started to sway back towards the Falcons on the strength of a pair of hard swings from Taylor Jordan and final block to seal a 25-21 decision for the Falcons.
In the third set, Fanshawe built on a lead and capped off a 25-10 victory, taking its opening match of the national championship.
Fanshawe's Player of the Game: Zach Albert
Holland's Player of the Game: Riley O'Keefe
Match 2: Keyano Huskies 3, Griffons de l'Outaouais 0
The ACAC Champion Keyano College Huskies displayed their strong net play with 12 blocks and downed the RSEQ) Wildcard entry, the Griffons de l'Outaouais, in three sets (25-22, 25-21 and 25-18).
In a tight first set, only a few points separated the two squads throughout. After l'Outaouais was up 20-18, Keyano College came on late with a 7-2 run. On the final play, Justin Delorme recorded a block, helping the Huskies seal a 25-22 win.
With shades of the opening set, neither side took a significant advantage early. Three consecutive aces from Keyano College's Don Campbell propelled his team ahead 14-12. When trailing by five (15-20), the Griffons went on a 6-0 run, pulling ahead by one (21-20) but the Huskies dug in. Justin Delorme inspired a 5-0 run and Keyano College capped off a 25-21 victory.
A kill from Liam Matheson and a block from Justin Delorme finalized a 25-18 decision for the Huskies in the third, taking the match in straight sets.
Keyano's Player of the Game: Justin Delorme
Outaouais Player of the Game: Guillaume Bisson
Match 3: Red Deer Kings 3, Titans de Limoilou 0
Backed by a 12-kill performance from RDC middle Adam Turlejski, the ACAC host Red Deer College Kings downed the RSEQ Champion Limoilou Titans, in three sets (25-11, 25-21 and 25-22).
The two volleyball programs are legendary in the CCAA. The RDC Kings have won 13 national gold medals and the Titans de Limoilou picked up their 11th last year.
With five kills from CCAA Player of the Year Regan Fathers and Turlejski, the Kings salted away a 25-11 win. RSEQ Player of the Year, Nicolas Fortin led the Titans offensively with three kills.
In the second set, Fortin pushed the Titans ahead 7-4 with a couple of hard swings from the right. With Regan Fathers at the service line, RDC eventually knotted the set 14-14. Steven Keating's solo block ignited the Kings and the home team wrapped up a 25-21 victory.
Kills from Limoilou's Nicolas Doucet and Charles St-Aubin provided their side a 9-7 lead in the third set. With Jonathan (JJ) Graham at the service line, the RDC Kings jumped ahead 17-16. The Titans put up a good fight, but the Kings sealed a 25-22 decision, taking the match in three sets.
RDC Player of the Game: Adam Turlejski
Limoilou Player of the Game: James Chretien
Match 4: VIU Mariners 3, Humber Hawks 0
In the final match of day one, the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners capitalized on a well-rounded game from Keal Prince and defeated the Humber Hawks in three sets (25-22, 25-22 and 25-23).
It was close early in the first set between the PACWEST Champion VIU Mariners and the OCAA Wildcard entry Humber Hawks. A pair of late kills from Jeff Webb, gave the Mariners a 25-22 win.
Humber led midway through the second set, but a pair of blocks from the Mariners evened it up 13-13. Momentum swayed in favour of the VIU and kills from Webb and Brayden Brouwer gave the Mariners an edge, before securing another 25-22 victory.
The Humber Hawks made a late push in the third but the VIU Mariners held on to win the set 25-23, and the match.
VIU Player of the Game: Keal Prince
Humber Player of the Game: Dylan Devecseri