TORONTO – The Rams men’s volleyball team earned their first playoff win since 2018 on Wednesday night, defeating Royal Military College 3-0 (30-28, 25-16, 25-17).
Rams outside hitter Jacob Walker tallied a game-high of 14 kills on the night, and setter Saad Shaikh recorded a game-high of 30 assists in a classic veteran performance.
“I honestly can’t say enough about Saad,” said Rams interim head coach Niko Rukavina after his first career playoff win in his second season as interim head coach. “The leadership, the calm demeanour, the way he leads our team on and off the court – I just want him to get more recognition for what he does to our team.”
The opening set was one to remember for the packed house at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, as the Rams and Paladins brought a playoff intensity that made for a thrilling watch.
With tonight being the first playoff game in the OUA careers of four out of the six starters, the young Rams struggled to start and trailed RMC 16-12 at the technical timeout. The Paladins were hitting outstandingly well to start the game, with Michael Rowsell tallying five kills in just the opening half-set.
The Rams were nowhere near ready to fold however, as they came back to pressure the Paladins with a stronger offence and reduced their attacking errors.
The most notable moment of the opening set was Rams setter Saad Shaikh coming up with a huge solo block as the Rams were down 27-26, ultimately swinging the momentum for the blue and gold as they took the set 30-28.
“That block was a ‘TSN Turning Point’ for sure,” said Rukavina in an excited tone.
“That’s what I do – I make big plays,” voiced Shaikh.
After a shaky first set from the favourites and host Rams, it was clear Rukavina calmed them down and got them playing their typical free-flowing game in the second set.
Leading 16-9 at the technical timeout after a 5-0 run, the Rams looked far more comfortable as they rolled through the Paladins 25-16 to go up 2-0.
While the Paladins fought and made it more difficult in the third set, forcing the Rams to take a timeout leading only 19-16 after an RMC run, it was ultimately the rookie-filled Rams that outlasted the Paladins on their way to an OUA quarter-final, taking the final set 25-17.
The Rams advance to take on the top seeded and No. 4 nationally ranked Toronto Varsity Blues at 8 p.m. this Saturday, March 12 at Toronto’s Goldring Centre.
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