Badgers secure big win on Senior Night

The Brock Badgers finished off the regular season at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 16, with a 3-0 victory over the visiting Waterloo Warriors (25-20, 25-21, 25-23). 

With the win and a guaranteed top four placing, the Badgers have booked a ticket in hosting a quarter-final matchup on Saturday, Feb. 24. 

Third-year outside hitter Kylar Code led the way for the Badgers with 12.5 points off 10 kills, one ace and three block assists, while also adding a game-high 10 digs. Graduating senior Grant Reddon notched a game-high 36 assists, while fellow graduate Jacob Ferland led the defensive effort with a game-high six blocks. 

The first set proved to share much of the same competitive action from when these two faced last Saturday night, as both teams traded points, unable to find a definitive edge for much of the set. The Badgers gained the momentum late, with a big kill from Sauli Lianga to force a Warriors’ timeout. Lianga came up big again once again following the stoppage, notching his fourth kill of the set, powering Brock to take it 25-20.

The second set continued to live up to the game-script, with both teams going one-for-one, but a block and kill from Jacob Ferland on consecutive plays proved to create some momentum for the Badgers. The home side went up 14-12, resulting in a Warriors’ timeout. Brock’s defence remained a strong spot for the team, as they recorded three blocks on their next five points to force another Waterloo timeout. The Warriors created some momentum of their own, but it was quickly shut down by a flurry of offence from the Badgers, capped off by a Code kill to take the second 25-21. 

The back-and-forth action only intensified in the third, as both teams scrapped for every point, neither willing to give an inch. Second-year outside hitter Devin Conney began to really heat up for Brock, recording five kills on the team’s first 15 points. Brock continued to ride the momentum built, getting out to a 19-16 lead; their largest of the set. The Warriors battled back hard, but it eventually proved to be not enough, as an attacking error on their part put the finishing touch on the set at 25-23.

The Badgers honoured their graduating seniors (left to right in the photo: Grant Reddon, Nanle Yusuf, Kersey Robinson, Sauli Lianga, Jacob Ferland) prior to the contest with a pre-game ceremony. 

Next up, the Brock Badgers (15-5) will host the OUA quarter finals at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 24. Find out more details as they become available on gobadgers.ca.