October 23, 2006
OUA CHAMPS START OFF PERFECT 2-0
The McMaster Marauders, Toronto Varsity Blues and defending the champion Queen's Golden Gaels are all off to perfect starts as the OUA volleyball season got underway Friday. The Gaels, who knocked out the favoured Ryerson Rams in the best-of-three championship match last spring, got 16 kills from Jeff Demeza and 43 assists from standout setter Devon Miller to beat the Windsor Lancers 3-1 in a grueling home opener. Queen's took the first set 25-20 and dropped the second 26-24, before winning 25-15 and 25-20 in the third and fourth. Luke Litchy and Nick Gralewicz had 12 kills each for the Gaels. The stat line was similar in Queen's 3-0 win over Western the next day, as Demeza added 16 more kills with 41 assists from Miller. The Gaels took the first two sets 25-23 and completed the sweep with a 25-19 win in the third. Dan Miller and Christopher Mokiry paced the Mustangs with nine kills each.
McMaster started on a high note as they defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-20) Friday. Mac's rookie outside hitter Jeremy Groenveld led all players with 12 points and 10 kills, while Ryan Hudson and Sean Panchal chipped in 12 assists each. Laurier's Mike Schurrmans had a match-high seven digs. Panchal had 29 assists and Groenveld produced 14 kills, both match highs, as the Marauders beat the Waterloo Warriors 3-1 the following night. Duncan Gillespie added nine kills and 14 total points for McMaster. Kostya Kovalenko led the Waterloo attack with 11 kills. Andrew Thorpe had 28 assists in a losing cause.
Brendan Peel had 13 kills and Steven Kung added 11 more as the Varsity Blues started the season with a satisfying 3-0 win over the rival York Lions. James MacKay led Toronto with 30 assists. The Blues took the first set 25-21 and then closed out the match with a 25-21 win in the second and a 25-22 victory in the third. York's Brad Girardo led all players with 33 assists. Paul Podstawks paced the Lions with 13 kills.
In other OUA action, Duncan Cairns had nine kills and Thorpe had 28 assists as the Warriors won their opener 3-0 Friday on the road over the Guelph Gryphons. Andrew Bartram had 10 kills for the Gryphs. Mark Murphy registered 12 kills and setter Eduardo Parungao had a match-high 37 assists as the Windsor Lancers defeated the RMC Paladins 3-0 in a tight match. Windsor eked out 30-28 and 29-27 wins in the first two sets before finishing the Paladins off 25-14 in the third. Mathieu Lorrain led RMC with 12 points, all from kills.
(Photo by Changuk Sohn.)
McMaster started on a high note as they defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-20) Friday. Mac's rookie outside hitter Jeremy Groenveld led all players with 12 points and 10 kills, while Ryan Hudson and Sean Panchal chipped in 12 assists each. Laurier's Mike Schurrmans had a match-high seven digs. Panchal had 29 assists and Groenveld produced 14 kills, both match highs, as the Marauders beat the Waterloo Warriors 3-1 the following night. Duncan Gillespie added nine kills and 14 total points for McMaster. Kostya Kovalenko led the Waterloo attack with 11 kills. Andrew Thorpe had 28 assists in a losing cause.
Brendan Peel had 13 kills and Steven Kung added 11 more as the Varsity Blues started the season with a satisfying 3-0 win over the rival York Lions. James MacKay led Toronto with 30 assists. The Blues took the first set 25-21 and then closed out the match with a 25-21 win in the second and a 25-22 victory in the third. York's Brad Girardo led all players with 33 assists. Paul Podstawks paced the Lions with 13 kills.
In other OUA action, Duncan Cairns had nine kills and Thorpe had 28 assists as the Warriors won their opener 3-0 Friday on the road over the Guelph Gryphons. Andrew Bartram had 10 kills for the Gryphs. Mark Murphy registered 12 kills and setter Eduardo Parungao had a match-high 37 assists as the Windsor Lancers defeated the RMC Paladins 3-0 in a tight match. Windsor eked out 30-28 and 29-27 wins in the first two sets before finishing the Paladins off 25-14 in the third. Mathieu Lorrain led RMC with 12 points, all from kills.
(Photo by Changuk Sohn.)
