KINGSTON, Ont. (March 1, 2024) – Queen’s Men’s Volleyball are heading to the OUA Forsyth Cup. The Gaels advanced to the championship game with a 3-1 (25-27, 25-17, 27-25, 25-20) win over the Brock Badgers in the OUA semifinals Friday in front of a packed Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC).
The first three sets were all close, with Queen’s dropping the first in extra games before edging Brock in the second and third set to take a 2-1 lead. The Gaels finished the win with a very strong fourth set, taking it by five points for the 3-1 win.
Erik Siksna (Markham, Ont.) led the Gaels offensively with team-high 17 kills while also adding seven digs. Zig Licis (Louisville, CO) was also strong offensively for Queen’s, finishing with 15 kills and a game-high three aces.
Licis said after the game the team’s big fourth set win was a product of staying focused even when the momentum started swinging in their favour.
“Just relentless belief in staying the course and taking it one point at a time, not trying to get out of here too fast, not getting stuck up in the big picture of the game. Just one point at a time.”
Dax Thompkins also had a big performance for Queen’s in the win, recording a game-high nine blocks on the defensive side while Chris Zimmerman (Prince George, B.C.) finished with 40 assists for the Gaels.
I said right before the huddle, ‘this is why you guys chose Queen’s. This is the best place in the country to play. – Queen’s Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Gabriel deGroot on the ARC crowd during the OUA semifinals
Thompkins said the Gaels fed off the crowd’s energy throughout the win, making sure they stayed focus on the task at hand but using it to power them also.
“Finding the right time to use it. We talk about the game being a U. When you’re on one side of the U, you’re too down, not in the game. On the other side of the U you’re too overstimulated, too amped up. Find the crowd when you’re in the sweet spot.”
With the win, the Gaels will travel to Hamilton, Ont. to take on the McMaster Marauders in the OUA Forsyth Cup Championship on Friday, March 8. The Marauders advanced to the Championship game with a 3-0 win over the Guelph Gryphons earlier Friday night.
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