National Championship Match: Fanshawe Falcons 3, Red Deer Kings 1
The Fanshawe Falcons have added CCAA Gold Medals to their recent collection, which includes silver medals last year and bronze in 2016. The Falcons were strong from the service line and limited their errors on route to a four-set championship win over the host Red Deer College Kings (25-12, 25-13, 22-25 and 25-23).
Four different Falcons picked up kills to propel their team ahead 11-4 in the early stages of the first set. Zach Albert’s three kills and 75 per cent hitting efficiency helped the Falcons increase their lead, and they wrapped up a 25-12 decision.
In the second set, Cole Jordan and Zach Albert helped the Falcons take a 13-8 edge. Fanshawe increased its lead and finalized a 25-13 win.
From the middle, Adam Turlejski put the Kings ahead by two (8-6) in the third set. Strong play from Cole Jordan kept the Falcons within a pair (18-20). Setter Tom Wass connected with Regan Fathers late and the Kings won 25-22.
A right-side block from James Jackson inspired the Falcons to an 11-4 lead in the fourth. RDC narrowed the gap to three (16-19) but eventually James Jackson sealed a 25-23 decision and the CCAA gold. The RDC Kings won the silver medals on their home court.
Player of the Game: David Gundrum
Red Deer Player of the Game: Isaiah Stime
Bronze Medal Match: VIU Mariners 3, Keyano Huskies 2
With a national bronze medal on the line, the Vancouver Island University Mariners, buoyed by a strong outing from Doug Groenendijk, defeated the Keyano Huskies in five hard fought sets (25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 28-30 and 16-14).
VIU’s setter Keal Prince connected with right side hitter Doug Groenendijk (five kills) early and often in the first set, helping their team take an 11-10 lead. Justin Delorme (four kills) kept the Huskies within a pair, but the Mariners capitalized off late kills from Jeff Webb and Adam Kapteyn to earn a 25-20 win.
Justin Delorme (ten kills) was Keyano setter Kelly Woods’ favourite target leading into the second set. The Huskies’ fifth-year kept it 12-12, hitting for 71.4 per cent efficiency. A pair of late blocks by Doug Groenendijk helped VIU take the second set 25-20.
Keyano’s Liam Matheson (six kills) started to receive more volume and helped push his side ahead 15-11 in the third. The Mariners reduced the five-point gap but couldn’t fully climb back. The Huskies extended the match with a 25-22 win.
The Mariners’ blockers went to work in the fourth set, helping them take a two point edge (16-14). The Huskies were energized by Justin Delorme’s 24th kill and went on a 10-4 run, pulling ahead 24-20. VIU extended the set, but Keyano sealed a 30-28 victory, sending the match to a deciding fifth set.
The momentum was with Keyano College early, backed by four kills from Justin Delorme to jump ahead 8-2. VIU rallied and finalized a 16-14 decision off an ace from Keal Prince, winning the 2019 CCAA bronze medals.
VIU Player of the Game: Doug Groenendijk
Keyano Player of the Game: Kelly Woods
Match 10: VIU Mariners 3, Griffons de l’Outaouais 0
In the bronze semi-final, Jeff Webb led the VIU Mariners over the Griffons de l’Outaouais in three sets (26-24, 25-18 and 25-21).
With good efforts from the Griffons’ Guillaume Bisson (four kills) and the Mariners’ Andre De Lacerda Pires (two kills), the teams found themselves even 15-15 in the first set. Eventually, Adam Kapteyn’s third kill capped off a 26-24 win for the Mariners.
In the second, Doug Groenendijk’s third kill of the match propelled VIU ahead 14-10. The Mariners expanded on their lead, earning a 25-18 decision.
Six-foot-three Alexandre Paquette, from the Griffons, evened the third set 10-10 with his fourth kill of the match. The Mariners outscored the Griffons 15-11 to earn a 25-21 victory, advancing to the bronze medal final.
Outaouais Player of the Game: Maxime St-Denis
VIU Player of the Game: Jeff Webb
Match 9: Keyano College Huskies 3, Titans de Limoilou 0
In the bronze semi-final the Keyano Huskies were strong from the service line and defeated the Titans de Limoilou, in three sets (25-17, 25-23 and 25-19).
Led by Don Campbell’s three kills, Keyano College jumped out to a 14-9 lead. Nicolas Fortin responded for the Titans with five kills and three digs, but the Huskies pulled away late, taking the opening set 25-17.
The Titans reversed their fortunes in the early stages of the second set, going 11-5 to start. The Huskies fought back, going on a 13-6 run (18-17). Keyano’s momentum continued and middle Levi Brunner finalized a 25-23 decision with a kill.
Back-to-back service aces from second-year Don Campbell pushed Keyano College ahead 8-3 in the third. Limoilou started to come on and Steven Boutin picked up a block to even it 15-15. Another ace from Don Campbell sealed a 25-19 victory, taking the match in three sets.
Limoilou Player of the Game: Charles St-Aubin
Keyano Player of the Game: Don Campbell
Placement Match: Humber Hawks 3, Holland Hurricanes 1
To wrap up their national championship weekend, the Humber Hawks were backed by a nine kill and 14 assist performance from Kamyn Wilkins, earning a four-set decision over the Holland Hurricanes (25-16, 20-25, 25-19 and 25-18).
In the opening set, Wilkins (four kills) ignited the Hawks to a four-point edge (14-10). Humber extended its lead to nine points and sealed a 25-16 win.
Brett Butler’s sixth kill gave the Hurricanes a three-point cushion (16-13) in the second. They built on their lead and capped off a 25-20 decision with the help of back-to-back aces from first-year John Ronalds, evening the match.
In the third, Eduardo Silva Ferreira and Wilkins lifted Humber to an 18-11 lead. Hurricanes Head Coach Maxence Levesque-Arsenault took a timeout to halt the momentum, but the Hawks eventually took the set 25-19.
Trailing 9-12 in the fourth, the Hurricanes went on a 6-5 run to pull within a pair (15-17). Holland couldn’t pull any closer and Humber wrapped up a 25-18 victory, taking the match in four sets.
Humber Player of the Game: Kamyn Wilkins
Holland Player of the Game: Nicholas Menzies