By: Pedro Casellatto

Two time playoff game hosts, the highest-seeded team in the championships, and one of the best records in the program's history were just a few achievements of the Centennial Men's Volleyball team in the 2023-2024 season. Besides that, they qualified for championships for the first time in 35 years, having the chance to fight for a provincial medal.

Unfortunately, after dropping a five-set game to the Humber Hawks in the semifinals and dropping the bronze medal game against the Cambrian Golden Shield in four sets, the Colts came home without the medal they were looking for. However, this season was exceptionally positive for the Colts, and there is a lot to be celebrated.

Back to the courts after an injury, Lionnis Salazar had his best performance, scoring-wise, against the Golden Shield. After an impressive 33 kills, he was named the Colts' player of the game and Tournament All-Star. "It kills us to know that we were so close, and it could have gone either way, but we left everything in the court, and we must be proud of that," said Salazar.

Along with Salazar, another big name was being mentioned constantly throughout the weekend. The rookie, Pablo Alvarez, had an excellent performance in the tournament, especially against the Hawks on the first day. "We were a few points away from making history happen. Both teams deserved it, but these games will be in the back of our minds for a little longer than we wanted to," said Alvarez.

During this season, the Colts had the chance to work through adversities many times. While dealing with many injuries that took a few players off the court for a while, the team was still compact and focused on the main goals. That mentality granted the Colts second place in the East Division, a record of 14-4, and the chance to win two playoff games as hosts. Although the result in the championships was not what they expected, they fought hard for every single point.

Among the many games we can talk about, the quarterfinal against the St. Clair Saints was probably the one that the fans will remember with joy. During the two hours and thirty minutes, both teams were exchanging powerful attacks and chasing an opportunity to be in the final four. In a thrilling 15-12 tiebreak, the Colts celebrated with the crowd the opportunity to represent the East in the final tournament.

The first-year head coach, Clayton Couchman, was happy not only with the achievements but also with the opportunity he had in his first year ahead of the men's volleyball program. He was not afraid to move his players around, trusting that their team connection would overcome any possible adversity. That confidence was reflected in the players, who came in for every game willing to fight until the last moment.

The third-year captain, Pedro Casellatto, took a moment after the game to appreciate the support of the fans. "I wish we could return the support of the other Colts and fans by bringing home the gold medal; they made everything feel magical. We owe them a debt that, at this moment, we cannot repay," lamented Casellatto.

Every game, set, and point would not be the same without all the staff who made each encounter possible. The passion of the fans made it so meaningful that it felt like a five-month season went by in a single week. The Colts will be back next year with the same intensity, willing to fight for every opportunity to, once again, get to the top.