Lakers volleyball earn big wins, men named OCAA Team of the Week

Both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams were in tough this weekend in big matches against Mohawk and Redeemer. The Lakers earned hard fought victories against each opponent. Special congratulations to the men’s team, who were named Team of the Week by the OCAA and are ranked number one in Ontario and number 3 in Canada.Lakers remain undefeated, earn Team of the Week honoursThe Nipissing Lakers men’s volleyball team was pushed to the limits in both matches this weekend, but showed their resiliency coming away with two important five-set victories against the Mohawk Mountaineers and Redeemer Royals to improve to 6-0 on the season. On Tuesday, the team was named OCAA Team of the Week.
Last Friday against Mohawk, the Lakers scored their most important comeback of the season. Down 8-2 at the turn, they chipped away at the lead with the turning point coming when setter Taylor Bielby shut down the Mountaineers offence by putting up two big stuff blocks to ignite the Lakers. The Lakers managed to erase the early deficit to defeat Mohawk 15-11 to capture the match.
Leading the Lakers offence was left-side Duncan Cairns with 17 points followed by right side Andre Leblanc who added 15 points.
On Saturday against Redeemer, the Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead only to see the Royals rally behind the boisterous home crowd and force a deciding set. In the fifth set the Lakers quickly quashed any notion of a comeback by the Royals as they dominated the game jumping out to a 7-0 lead before Redeemer could muster a side out. The Lakers cruised to a 15-4 victory to remain undefeated in league play.
Cairns along with Adam Leblanc led the offence with 14 points each while Andre Leblanc and Frankie Edgecombe each poured in 13 to round out the offence.
The Lakers are currently ranked number one in Ontario and are the third ranked team in Canada. This is the highest national ranking in the program’s history.
The Lakers will finish the first half of the season with three home games. This weekend the Lakers will face Niagara on Saturday and Fanshawe on Sunday. They’ll conclude the first half of the season with the battle of the Bay against Canadore on Wednesday November 30.Lady Lakers sweep in the Hammer
The Nipissing Lady Lakers volleyball team came away with a pair of victories after sweeping Mohawk and Redeemer to improve to 5-1 on the season.
On Friday versus Mohawk, the Lady Lakers came out with perhaps their strongest performance of the season and dominated the Mountaineers, sweeping the match 3-0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-17).
Rookie Brittany Ardron reached a career high, recording 17 points in three sets to lead the Lakers offence while middles Lucia DeMarco and Jacquie Dyball each added seven points to round out the offence.
Saturday was a different story as the Lady Lakers struggled to find their rhythm while facing a determined Redeemer squad. The Lady Lakers showed some resiliency as they were down 18-10 in the first set and managed to claw their way back to edge Redeemer 25-23. The Royals put up a battle but, in the end, the Lady Lakers were able to win 25-20 and 25-22 to close out the match.
Ardron and Megan Gilmore led the Lakers offence with eight points while DeMarco added six to round out the offence.
“We executed very well on Friday, however, we struggled a little today,” said head coach Marc LaRochelle. “We have to tweak a few technical and tactical issues in practice this week and get ready for two tough matches this weekend. Niagara and Fanshawe have been playing well and we need to be ready for the challenge.”
The Lady Lakers will finish off the first half of the season by playing three home games. The Niagara Knights and Fanshawe Falcons come to town Saturday and Sunday and the battle of the Bay against Canadore College is schedules for November 30.