By: Jack Middleton

After securing the win at home in the round of 16, the Centennial Men's Volleyball team advances to the quarterfinals. They will be the hosts once again, and this time, they are facing the third-placed St. Clair Saints this Sunday at noon at the Athletic and Wellness Centre in Scarborough.

The Colts are coming off a very positive first playoff game. They were able to keep control and not let it slide at any moment. They will be looking to bring the same intensity against the Saints. "Our last game was very reassuring, it was a good demonstration of where we want to get as a team," said the captain, Pedro Casellatto. The third-year player also mentioned that the team is now less tense, which will be very important for the next round.

One of the biggest surprises of the last game was the return of Lionnis Salazar, one of the main players for the Colts in the first semester. After an ankle injury, he returned showing passion and intensity, helping the Colts secure the spot in the round of eight.

It will not be the first time the Colts and the Saints face. In the same tournament that they defeated the Mohawk Mountaineers, they were able to take the game against the Windsor-based squad in four sets. That result was important, but both teams know this is a different time of the season now.

Both teams have been indirectly challenging each other for the entire season. Gianluca Righetto for the Colts, and Kale Wilkinson for the Saints, started a great dispute for first place in the league in kills per set. Arthur Richard and Pedro Casellatto are respectively leading the aces per set table. Finally, Michael Matsuto and Nick Kwiatkowski have been switching positions in assists per set.

As both teams are in the top five for most of the stats, we can only expect a game that will prove the quality they have and that will be decided on the small details. It is just a matter of who will pay more attention to them to be able to qualify for the next round. Make sure to come out and support the Colts as they write an important chapter in their history.

Game time from the Athletic and Wellness Centre is 12PM.