March 27, 2022

Camosun charges to a CCAA Volleyball Championship

CCAA Championship Match - Camosun Chargers 3, Titans de Limoilou 0

In a repeat matchup of the 2015 CCAA Championship final, the Camosun Chargers earned the gold medal with a three-set victory over the Titans de Limoilou.

Camosun came out strong, jumping out to an early 6-1 lead in the first set and expanding that to 12-4 shortly after. Lorenz Vogel clinched the first set for the Chargers with a decisive block, leading to a 25-18 victory over the Hosts.

The two teams battled back and forth in the second set, trading the lead several times. After being knotted up at 7-7, Charles St-Aubin of Limoilou led his team to a 16-12 lead. However, the Chargers bounced back to tie the game at 18-18 following a pair of aces. They remained deadlocked through next several series before a couple of errors by the Titans allowed the Chargers to pull away for a 25-22 win.

In the final frame, the Titans again opened up the scoring and took the lead. The Chargers' Vitor Pereira spurred his squad's comeback, eventually pulling even with Limoilou at 13-13. Camosun continued their charge, widening their lead to 21-17 before claiming the decisive set by a score of 25-21.

Vitor Pereira earned the 4imprint Player of the Game designation for the Chargers while Xavier Desfossés won the honour for the Titans.

Camosun's Eduardo Bida was named a first team All-Star along with Limoilou's Charles St-Aubin and Xavier Desfossés. Lorenz Vogel and Christian Lafferty were designated as second team All-Stars. Vitor Pereira was named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship.

Bronze Medal Match - Red Deer Kings 3, Redeemer Royals 1

The Red Deer Kings earned CCAA bronze with a four-set victory over the Redeemer Royals (25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20).

From the very start of the match the excitement was palpable. Both teams were playing fast and the attacks were flying. Red Deer took the lead and managed to hold onto throughout the first set even though Redeemer conitnued to battle back.

The Kings quickly built a comfortable 6-1 lead in the second and maintained control on route to a decisive second set victory. Red Deer's Nicholas Possingham and Dillon Gauci gave their opponents a particularly hard time.

The Royals rebounded in the third, jumping out to an early 7-1 lead. Although Red Deer managed a comeback which tied it at 19-19, William Winkelhorst of Redeemer finished off the set with a kill, forcing a fourth.

The teams ended up tied in the fourth at 15-15, at which point Red Deer pulled away. The Kings claimed the bronze medals off a match winning kill from Cody Boulding.

The Royals' 4imprint Player of the Game was William Winkelhorst who finished with 14 points. For the Kings, Nicholas Possingham earned the designation with his 13 points.

Match 10 - Redeemer Royals 3, Humber Hawks 2

The Redeemer Royals won in five sets over the Humber Hawks 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-12) to advance to the Bronze Medal Match.

In the first set, the Royals took the lead at 8-7 and despite persitence from the Hawks, Redeemer held on to claim the first set. Humber responded responded in the second with contributions from many on their roster to even the match at one win apiece.

Defence was key to the Royals victory in the third set, where they fought off several attacks from the Hawks and persevered through many long rallies between the two OCAA squads. The Hawks bounced back again in the fourth, earning a decisive set win.

Redeemer jumped into the lead to start the fifth and refused to let the Hawks regain the upper hand, eventually earning the win and the opportunity to battle for bronze.

The 4imprint Players of the Match were Brett Jenkins for Redeemer and Joshua Fadare for Humber.

Match 9 - Red Deer Kings 3, St. Thomas Tommies 0

The Red Deer Kings capitalized on the opportunity to play for a CCAA medal by defeating the St. Thomas Tommies 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-18).

Both the first and second sets featured ties early, but strong attacks from Cody Boulding, Dillon Gauci and Brett Lower earned Red Deer wins. In the third, the Kings jumped out to an early 5-1 lead, and despite a fighting effort from the Tommies, Red Deer never relinquished their lead.

Maddux Greves of Red Deer and Christian Christie St. Thomas were the 4imprint Players of the Match.