Match 1: Camosun Chargers 3, Providence Pilots 1
The opening match of the championship saw the Providence Pilots taking on the defending CCAA national champions, the Camosun Chargers. Providence came out strong in the first set establishing a 17-13 lead midway through the set and never looked back, taking the set by a score of 25-19.
Camosun would respond in the second set breaking away midway though the frame forcing a Pilots timeout with the score, 19-12. That would prove to be too big of a lead for Providence to overcome as the Chargers tied things at one set apiece.
Camosun never looked back from their taking the next two sets over the Pilots by a score of 25-18 and 25-20.
Camosun’s All-Canadian Eduardo Bida was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for his side, finishing with 17 kills, three aces, six digs and two blocks. Another All-Canadian, Noah Boschman was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for Providence tallying 15 kills, nine digs, one ace and one block.
Match 2: Fanshawe Falcons 3, Briercrest Clippers 0
The Fanshawe Falcons won the second matchup of the day in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, and 26-24 over the ACAC Champions, the Briercrest Clippers.
After trailing for the majority of the first set, Fanshawe turned it on at the end of the frame to steal the opening set. Daniel Ridings led the Falcons on offence picking up six kills in the set.
Fanshawe took control of the second set early forcing Briercrest into two quick timeouts with the score at 12-7. The Clippers would get the lead down to just one point, but where never able to overtake the Falcons on way to dropping the second set.
The third and final set was the tightest of the afternoon with the Clippers fighting to stay in the match. The game remained tied all the way up to 24, with Fanshawe closing out the game with the final two points of the match to pick up the victory.
CCAA Player of the Year, Sebastian Lethbridge was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for the Falcons, finishing with 33 assists, 11 digs, two kills and one ace. Tyson Nachtigall was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for the Clippers recording four kills, four blocks, and three digs.
Match 3: Humber Hawks 3, Sainte-Anne Dragons 0
The host Humber Hawks kicked off their tournament with an emphatic win, defeating the Sainte-Anne Dragons in straight sets, 25-17, 25-15, 25-21.
Humber grabbed the momentum right out of the gate as fifth-year setter Jake Gomes picked up four aces in his first trip to the service line, forcing an early Dragons timeout. The Hawks carried that lead throughout the rest of the set taking a, 1-0 lead.
The second set was once again all Humber but this time it was Jaydon Milne who lead the way for his squad. Milne recorded nine points in the set coming off six kills and three aces, as Humber took a commanding 2-0 lead.
The third set was the Dragons best of night with both teams knotted up halfway into the set. Sainte-Anne would come up short however as the Hawks closed out what would be the final set of the match.
Jake Gomes was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for Humber putting up 25 assists, eight aces and two digs. All-Canadian, Alec Cottreau collected the 4imprint Player of the Match honours for the Dragons finishing with six aces, five kills and four digs.
Match 4: Volontaires De Sherbrooke 3, VIU 2
The final match of the day saw the Volontaires de Sherbrooke rally from down 0-2 to defeat the VIU Mariners in a five set thriller. The set scores were 25-27, 20-25, 26-24, 26-24, and 15-12.
Both sides battled back and forth throughout the first set as neither team was able to establish a run to break things open. The teams remained deadlocked all the way up to match point, with VIU capturing the decisive final two points to win the set.
VIU led wire-to-wire in the second set as Sherbrooke fell behind early and was unable to catch the Mariners who took a commanding, 2-0 set lead.
It was a thrilling third set as the Mariners built an early lead only to have the Volontaires battle back to tie things up at 24. It would be Sherbrooke that would put together the final run this time, taking the set 26-24.
As, was the case all night with these two teams the fourth set went down to the wire again with both teams needing extra points. The Volontaires would capitalize for the second straight set to capture the fourth, tying the match at two sets each.
In the fifth Sherbrooke would fall behind again early to the Mariners, but as was the case all night fought their way back into the set. The Volontaires would go on to complete the comeback to cap off an exciting day one.
Grégoire Mercier-Noël was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for Sherbrooke finishing with 16 kills, six digs, three aces and three blocks. Lucas Torres was named the 4imprint Player of the Match for the Mariners recording 18 kills, four digs, two blocks and one ace.
