Falcons Tie for Fifth in the Nation

Falcons Tie for Fifth in the Nation
March 11, 2024

(London, Ontario) – The OCAA Wildcard Falcons tied for fifth at the 2024 CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship hosted by Camosun College in Victoria, BC on Saturday afternoon.

In the second championship quarterfinal match of the tournament, the Falcons faced the Titans de Limoilou (RSEQ Champions). The Birds dropped the opening set 25-23 but bounced back and won set two 25-22. Both teams fought with great effort, but the Titans edged out the Falcons, taking the match 3-1. Tanner Paterson (Baden, ON) was named 4Imprint Player of the Match. Paterson recorded an impressive 13 kills and an ace.

The Falcons faced the STU Tommies in a bronze quarter-final match on day two. The Falcons fell 25-23 in the first set. Then, the Falcons hit their stride and took the next two sets with a dominating force (25-25 and 25-19). The match ultimately went to five sets and the Falcons took the final set by a score of 15-13 to advance to the bronze semi-final match. With nine kills, four blocks, and seven block assists, Jayden Crowther was awarded Fanshawe's 4Imprint Player of the Match.

For a chance to play for a national bronze medal, the Fanshawe Falcons and Humber Hawks would rematch after the Falcons fell 3-2 to the Hawks in the OCAA Championship. The Falcons started strong and prevailed 25-23 over Humber in set one. Paterson contributed to Fanshawe's early success with three kills.  In set two, Zack Admans (St. Thomas, ON) and Elliott Leslie (London, ON) added a pair of kills for Fanshawe, but Humber evened out the match and took the set 27-25. Matthew Battad (Vancouver, BC) made great diving saves defensively and the Falcons regained control of the game, winning the set 25-21, and taking a 2-1 lead to head into the fourth set. Unfortunately, history would repeat itself and the OCAA Champions won the final two sets to secure the match. Admans amounted 13 kills, eight digs, and was named a 4Imprint Player of the Match.

Paterson was named a CCAA Second Team Championship All-Star for all-around performance.