(London, Ontario) – On Friday evening at the Glenn Johnston Athletic Centre, the 2024 OCAA Men's Volleyball Championship showcased the four top teams in the province in exciting semi-final matches.
In the second semi-final of the evening, the No. 6 nationally ranked Fanshawe Falcons (16-5, 2nd West) defeated the No. 11 nationally ranked Cambrian Golden Shield (14-7, 4th West) in front of a packed home crowd. The Falcons got off to a quick start with Zack Admans scoring three of Fanshawe's first five points. Consecutive kills by OCAA West Division Second Team All-Star Tanner Paterson pushed the Fanshawe's advantage to 10 over Cambrian's five. To close in on the gap, OCAA West Division First Team All-Star and CCAA All-Canadian Sven Trodel recorded a kill for the Golden Shield, but it was not enough. The Birds were on fire and took set one 25-16.
The Falcons had another great start during set two. Setter Matt Stechnicki found OCAA West Division First Team All-Star Jayden Crowther who scored in back-to-back plays. Then, the momentum shifted when Jason Diotte served an ace and Cambrian took a commanding 17-9 lead. Nathan Scully managed his fourth point of the match with a forceful kill to extend the visitor's advantage. The Falcons made a late 6-3 run to narrow the deficit to two, but the Golden Shield prevailed taking the second set 25-22.
Cambrian began set three with a charging 6-0 start which was led by outside hitter Kurtis Brisebois, recording a pair of early kills. Then, fourth-year Daniel Ridings crushed three kills to give the Birds a one-point lead. Ultimately the Falcons went up 2-1 in the match after a 25-18 set three win. Set four remained close until Fanshawe pieced together a 4-0 run which included a Ridings kill and Jack Voght block. Cambrian then answered with a six-point run of their own. Crowther executed a picture-perfect set from Voght to tie the set at 20 each. Fanshawe secured the match with a 25-23 set four triumph. Scully was named Cambrian's player of the match, notching 10 points off a .562 kill percentage. With 16 points and 12 digs, Ridings was Fanshawe's player of the game.
The soaring Fanshawe Falcons look to stop the Humber Hawks from being named the OCAA Men's Volleyball Champions for the fourth consecutive season in a must-see gold medal match at 5:00 p.m in the Nest.
All news, stats, webcasts, and up-to-date results can be found on the 2024 OCAA Men's Volleyball Championship website: https://ocaachampionships.prestosports.com/championships/mvbl/2023-24/index.
