November 24, 2024
WELLAND, ON: The Niagara Knights women's volleyball team (6-4) go 1-1 on the weekend as they hosted back-to-back games against the Cambrian Golden Shield and the Boreal Vipers. The Knights welcomed the Cambrian Golden Shield (3-5) to the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre at the Welland Campus on Saturday, November 23rd, falling short with an unfortunate 3-1 loss (set scores were 20-25,16-25, 25-20 and 16-25). Less than 24 hours later, the Knights then took on the Boreal Vipers (0-8), bouncing back with a 3-0 sweep (set scores were 25-11, 25-17 and 25-11).
In Saturday's matchup against the Golden Shield, the Knights were generating plenty of attack opportunities but were struggling to get past the Golden Shield's defense. The Knights were able to show some life in the 3rd set and looked prime for a comeback, which unfortunately was promptly shut down by Cambrian as they went on to win the 4th set and subsequently the match. Laryssa Schipper, the 1st year middle from Mount Brydges, ON, finished the game with 11 points on 3 kills and 8 blocks. Tess Kelly, the 2nd year middle from Niagara Falls, ON, offered a 1-2 punch along with Schipper contributing 10 points on 3 kills with 6 blocks, 2 assists and 1 service ace.
After suffering the loss Saturday afternoon, the Knights were hungry to bounce back in their match against the Boreal Vipers – and "bounce back" is an understatement. Dominating from start to finish, the Knights were adamant to prove they are a top team in the OCAA. Charlize Trudell, the Belle River, ON native led the Knights with 12 points on 6 kills, 6 service aces and 2 digs. Tess Kelly also kept the good weekend going with 11 kills in 13 attempts, 6 digs and 1 assist. Tia Kelly, a setter from A.N. Myer Secondary School, added to the stat sheet with 23 assists, 5 digs, 1 point and 1 service ace.
Speaking with Steve Stone, head coach of the Knights, after the weekend games, he expressed that "Cambrian played a really complete and tough game." He continued to mention that "they (Cambrian) got a lot of block touches and digs, really extending rallies and making it difficult to put away a ball. A lot of bounces and plays that normally go our way just didn't in this game – we have to look at the whole game and know that it may simply have been an outlier of a game and turn to the next game." Turning to the next game is exactly what the Knights did the next day. "We had a really complete game from the ladies in this one, which was a breath of fresh air when comparing it to the Cambrian game from the day before" Stone mentioned. "All of the girls executed and were under control the whole time – it's nice to see them come out and bounce back in this one."
The Knights get set to wrap up the first half of the season as they travel to London on Wednesday, November 27th to battle the Fanshawe Falcons (3-6) at 6:00pm. After this match, the Knights will enjoy the Christmas break before getting back into action in the new year, when they welcome the Mohawk Mountaineers (7-2) to the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre on Saturday, January 11th, 2025 at 1:00pm.
