Nov. 7 Niagara College report
Playing at home proved to be the perfect tonic for the Niagara College Knights women’s volleyball squad.
Against visiting Fanshawe last Friday, Niagara (1-2) recorded its first win of the season with a 3-0 (25-20, 26-24 and 26-24) sweep.
“It was what we needed,” Niagara head coach Tommy Sloan said. “We needed to find a way to really get our season going.”
Sloan will take the win.
“It wasn’t super pretty, but we stuck to trusting what we came into do.”
Leading the way for Niagara was Natasha Desjardins. The 5-foot-9 right setter had nine kills and two aces in her return to volleyball after helping Niagara’s women’s soccer squad win an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association bronze medal.
Sloan was happy to have the fifth-year autism behavioural science student back on his roster.
“We value having her back. She clarifies what we want to do offensively.”
Also playing well for Niagara were: Montanna Taylor, who had 18 assists and five digs and is averaging 2.25 assists per set this season; and, Madelyn Berg, who recorded 11 digs.
Niagara hosts Sheridan College (1-3) Friday at 6 p.m.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Ranked sixth in the nation, Niagara’s men’s volleyball team fell 3-0 (15-25, 16-25, 22-25) to fourth-ranked Fanshawe in its home opener Friday to fall to 2-1 on the season.
“I think Fanshawe came out flying,” Niagara head coach Steven Stone said. “They came out very prepared to take it to us in our home court. We didn’t have much of an answer for them tonight.”
Playing well for the Knights were: Dallas Melnick with a team-leading seven kills; Colin Prelaz with six kills; and, Carter Thurman with 18 assists.
The Knights host Sheridan (2-2) Friday at 8 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s women’s basketball went winless on a weekend road trip to fall to 1-2 in OCAA league play.
The Knights lost 80-64 to St. Clair and 54-50 to Lambton, the ninth-ranked team in the nation.
Against St. Clair, the home squad grabbed quarter leads of 21-18, 41-32 and 55-50 to record the victory.
Top Niagara performers against St. Clair were: Jamira Rousseau, 12 points and six assists; Kate Roth, 11 points and 11 rebounds; Janee Harrison, 10 points and seven boards; Taryn Mitchell, 10 points; and, Molly Taylor,eight points and eight rebounds.
Lambton led 21-15 after one quarter before Niagara went ahead 32-31 at the half and 47-45 after three quarters.
Leading the way for Niagara were: Harrison, 12 points and five boards; Rousseau, 11 points and five assists; Angelica Lapensee, eight points; Roth, seven points and five rebounds; and, Taylor, four points and 13 boards.
Niagara hosts Fanshawe (3-1) Saturday at 1 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL.
Niagara’s men’s basketball team (2-2) split its road trip by falling 88-84 to St. Clair and defeating Lambton 88-69.
“This was a much-needed win and bounce back after a tough loss the night before,” Niagara head coach Phil Mosley said. “We were able to take over the second half and received great guard play from Reggie Williams and rookie Ethan Dela Cruz.”
Against St. Clair, Niagara trailed 27-19 after one quarter and 52-36 at the half before cutting the lead to 66-64 with a strong third quarter. The Knights led 78-72 with less than seven minutes left in the game before St. Clair went on a 12-0 run to record the victory.
Filling the stat sheet for Niagara were: Delroy Grandison, 13 points and 16 rebounds; Kenneth Reckley Jr., 13 points and six boards; Williams,13 points; and, Kennan Larmand, 11 points.
Against Lambton, the game was tied 15-15 after one quarter and Niagara trailed 37-32 at the half. The Knights outscored their opponents 56-32 in the second half to post the victory.
Top performers for Niagara were: Williams, 24 points; Grandison, 19 points and 11 rebounds; DelaCruz, 12 points; Larmand, 12 points; and, Rahim Bradi, 11 points.
The Knights host Fanshawe (1-3) Saturday at 3 p.m.
