Beavers take home WOSSAA silver

       Runner-up in 1A boys' volleyball , while Parkside wins bronze at the 2A event 

             Thursday, November 16, 2017

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, ON. - The Lord Dorchester Beavers and Parkside Stampeders brought home hardware from their respective WOSSAA boys' volleyball tournaments.

The Beavers had to settle for the silver medal, losing to Monseigneur-Bruyere, from London, in the gold game, 25-21, 25-13, 25-7, at WOSSAA 1A, held in Mitchell.

LDSS coach Jeff Harmer, said his team was outmatched by Monseigneur-Bruyere’s dominate middle hitter.

"They (players) were proud of what the team accomplished as a young team," LDSS coach Jeff Harmer said, adding his team was outmatched by MB's dominate middle hitter. "Disappointed that it wasn't gold, but ready to go get it next year."

Dorchester needed just three games to beat the host school, in the semi-finals, 27-25, 21-25, 25-19, 26-24, thanks to good defence and strong attacks, including a couple big serving runs.

The Beavers beat the West Elgin Wildcats, in the TVRA 1A title game, November 9.

 At WOSSAA 2A, held at South Collegiate Institute, in London, the Parkside Stampeders won the senior bronze medal, defeating London Aquinas, three games to one, 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17.

"Ultimately the boys wanted a win to finish the season," Parkside coach Chris Palmer said. "We took it to them in sets one and two then fell asleep in the third, just like against Central Elgin at TVRA (South-East final). Got it done in the fourth set."

In the semi-finals, Parkside lost to Stratford Central, ending the Stampeders' hopes of an OFSAA berth.

"My team was very disappointed as OFSAA really was the goal and that match with Stratford was on our calendar from the first league match of our season," Palmer said. "The semi final was the best volleyball we have played all year. Stratford has more experience on that stage and just performed at a slightly higher level. We were up 17-12 in the fourth set and really had the chance to send it to a fifth set. They have two big power swings that we just couldn't slow down enough. They chipped away and eventually took the fourth 25-23."

The Stampeders will have a different look next season, as players who made huge contributions to Parkside volleyball graduate - Noah Dos Santos, Jack Ferguson, Josh Hare. Joe Muma and Nick Sturk.

Stratford Central returns to OFSAA, after dusting South in the senior gold game, 25-11, 25-12, 25-17.

At the junior level, the St. Joseph's Rams lost both of their matches, the first to the host school, in a five game thriller (26-16, 22-25, 25-16, 17-25, 15-12), then to Stratford St. Mike's, three games to one (25-20, 25-18, 18-25, 26-24), in the bronze medal match.

"Our first match against South was an absolute thriller. Back and forth for the whole match. Our boys were absolutely fantastic. I could not asked for more from our team," Rams coach Kent Cherevaty said. They (South) were passing really well and had a few boys that could smash the ball. They also served well and that was huge for them. We couldn't match some of their top servers."

St. Joe's couldn't duplicate their play in the bronze game.

"Against St. Mikes, we just didn't have it," Cherevaty simply said.

Ingersoll won the gold medal, defeating South, in three straight games.