By Hayley McGoldrick
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL RECAP
Facing Loyalist College for the first time since October, the Colts fell to the Lancers in five close sets at the Athletic and Wellness Centre (AWC) on Saturday afternoon.
The Colts came out strong defensively taking the first set by six points, but after taking the second as well the Lancers won three straight (25-19, 26-24, 22-25, 16-25, 6-15) as the Colts fell in five sets for the third time in four games.
The Lancers started off the second set 1-0, which was the only time Loyalist led all match as an intense back in forth ended in favour of Centennial with a 26-24 set to take a 2-0 lead in the game.
Stella Dada led the way for the Colts on offence with 20 kills, with Jada Bradford adding another double-digit score of her own with 11.
Bradford was also a force defensively for Centennial adding 10 digs, and Doris Lam led the team with another 11.
Two different Loyalist players added 12 points each in their win, committing almost half the attack errors of Centennial in their win as they tallied 10 while the Colts had 18.
“They’re missing the team aspect, you don’t win as an individual you win as a team and you lose as a team, the whole team has to want it,” said Emily Joe, women’s volleyball assistant coach. “Everyone’s attitude has to be to put in their 100% to win and I think that that aspect of being a team slowly breaks down.”
The third set was the first where Loyalist kept a consistent lead and was the turning point in the game that the Colts just couldn’t come back from.
Putting up 73 points in the first three sets, the Colts only put up 22 points in the final two sets as the Lancers sailed past in the final two sets taking home a win.
“The attitude they had going into the third set was a lot different than what it had been in the past, they were ready, and they wanted it,” Joe said. “I think in terms of how we did last semester compared to this semester, we have gone to five sets in three of our last four which shows that we have that drive and we’re trying to push more.”
Centennial still struggles to find their first win at home but look to get back to winning ways in their next match.
The Colts will head out on the road to Durham College to face the Lords on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6pm before coming back home next Saturday to face Fleming at 1pm at the Athletic and Wellness Centre (AWC).
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL RECAP
Coming out of their last four games with a 2-2 record, the Centennial Colts’ men’s volleyball team fell to the Loyalist Lancers in four sets (20-25, 25-18, 16-25, 26-28) Saturday afternoon at the Athletic and Wellness Centre (AWC).
Brendan Chau and Marvin Reid once again delivered double digits for the Colts on offence, with Chau tallying 12 points and Reid adding 15.
On the defensive side, Jordan Nnabuogor and Dylan Bautista both added six digs for the Colts to try and block Loyalist’s top scorer Josh Roberts who tallied 12 points.
Getting swept by the Lancers in October, the Colts powered through to win a set by seven points, the second largest deficit in all sets played.
The Lancers answered in the third set by winning by nine, but the Colts rallied back and forth in the fourth set to push in into extra points.
“The whole time they didn’t give up which is great, coming out of the gate we were a little flat but we channelled what we needed to and were strong the whole way through,” said Sev Libramonte, assistant coach for the men’s volleyball team. “We definitely didn’t question the fight of these guys, what it came down to was some errors here and there but ultimately it was a good fight and we were right there.”
Riley Litwiller was the difference maker for the Lancers with eight digs on defence as well as four aces that lifted his team over the Colts in set three and pushed the momentum in set four.
Javed Baksh added 29 assists for the Colts in the matchup, setting his teammates up for prime opportunity, but the Loyalist defence was too much to battle.
“Even though there will be those instances where we might butt heads a little bit, I think through and through we’re just going to be together the whole way through the game and that’s one thing we’re going to have,” Libramonte said.
The fourth set was proof of the team’s relentless spirit, and Centennial continued to drive the game on both offence and defence despite the strong Loyalist team.
Finding themselves tied at 23, the teams traded points back and forth pushing the game into extra points, similar to the Colts previous matchup against Canadore.
Despite reaching 24 before their opponent, the set ended in favour of the Lancers and the Colts lost their second in a row at home.
The Colts now play one game away and one game at home to end the season, including a tough road match against the Durham Lords.
“Durham is undefeated right now, our main focus is serve receive and a lot of defence, in our terms of our swings offence really isn’t our problem,” Libramonte said. “It’s just really taking control of what’s on our side, getting the ball up, passing it and our dig count was just way too low.
Centennial now drops to 2-6 at home this season but have one last opportunity against Fleming on Saturday, Feb. 15 to redeem themselves.
Before then, the Colts will head out on the road and face Durham College on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6pm, their final road game of the season.