Kajan Thiruthanikasalam (Sports Writer, Colts Athletics)

SCARBOROUGH, ONT.- The Georgian Grizzlies men's volleyball team came into this game with a 7-0 record and were the gold standard for the OCAA East (#2 ranked in the CCAA) thus far, only losing three sets in those seven games. For the Centennial Colts, this was a tall task to go up against but more than held their own.

"I think the guys were prepared a bit better, you know, they were mentally focused," Colts assistant coach Chichky Hua said. "Suffice to say, they understood what was at hand; they were playing the first place team in the OCAA." 

And although the Colts lost in straight sets, there were a lot of positives to be taken from this game as it was closer than the final score indicated.

Centennial (3-3) fell to Georgian (8-0) in three sets (29-31, 17-25, 26-24) at the Athletic and Wellness Centre in the final game of their four game home stand. Although this was the Colts' third straight loss, they played hard and well, as the first and third sets were decided by extra points (with Centennial having a lead for most of those two sets).

"I think that provided a little bit of motivation for them to come out strong," Hua said. "That's to say that motivation needs to come out regardless of whether they're first or last place in the division."

Georgian outpaced Centennial in kills (35-31), hit percentage (31.8-27.7), and assists (32-30). However, the Colts had the Grizzlies' number in digs (22-14) and blocks (10-6).

Ryan DeBruyn had a game high 14 points on 12 kills and a team high two solo blocks for Georgian while Jake Edwards led the team with five digs and two service aces. Liam Gray had a game high 31 assists in the win.

For Centennial, they were led by Sev Libramonte, who had 12 points on eight kills (tied with Jordan Saddler, who returned from an ankle injury) and a team high two service aces. Griffin Dubbeld had a game high three solo blocks while Calvin Yu had a game high 12 digs and Adam Yu Qiu had a team high 26 assists in the loss.

Arya Yaghini was back in the starting lineup after being limited due to injury and finished with seven points on five kills.

"Arya is going to be a force in the middle; he's athletic, big, fairly agile and he brings a different dynamic to the court that we didn't have in games three through five," Hua said. "With that being said, he needs to stay healthy but he's a force to be reckoned with and we're happy to have him back."

Hua also raved about the calm veteran presence that Libramonte, Saddler and Jason Fillion provide to this team and that the team camaraderie is great.

"The vets have done a great job," Hua said. "Genuinely, the guys like each other. When the guys like each other and they jive on and off the court, that's going to bode well for success in the future."

The Colts got off to a fast start this set as they took an early 11-7 lead but Georgian chipped away at the lead, eventually cutting it to 18-17. That's when the Colts scored five straight to force a Georgian timeout , capped off by a kill from Saddler. However, Georgian came roaring back with seven straight points to take the lead and earn set point but another kill from Saddler tied the set, setting off a furious back-and-forth sequence for the next 10 points of the set (five points each for both teams).

A pair of errors from the Colts, however, proved costly as the Grizzlies took an entertaining first set by a score of 31-29.

The second set showed why Georgian was perfect this season. Centennial trailed 5-4 early in the set before the Grizzlies scored nine of the next 12 points to take a 14-7 lead and forced two Colts timeouts in the process. 

"The two things that came to mind in our postgame meeting were starts and sustaining," Hua said. "There are times where we get off to slow starts and we don't start playing till we're down by three, four, five points; and that just can't happen."

Highlighted by back to back service aces from Libramonte, Centennial cut the lead to 18-14. But Georgian could not be denied as they pulled away, with a kill from Jordi Romero capping off the second set, 25-17, in favour of the Grizzlies.

But this Colts team simply wouldn't give in without a fight as they scored the first three points of the set. However, the Grizzlies once again came back to tie the set this time at 13. Centennial then scored three straight points, highlighted by a block from Libramonte and after both teams exchanged a point, Georgian then scored three of their own to tie the set at 17 and forced a Colts timeout.

From there, it started yet another back-and-forth battle as both teams played even throughout the next 14 points as the set was tied at 24. But an attack error from Qiu, combined with a kill attempt from Saddler being blocked, Georgian took the third set by a score of 26-24, and the match.

Even though Centennial lost, they showed a lot of grit and played Georgian very tight. But will the momentum from this game continue on the road against the Canadore Panthers and Durham Lords?

"The one thing for us is to keep our head high and make sure we stay the course that we've set for them," Hua said. "There's still lots of improvement for us to make for the players individually and as a team. We'll take a look at video, we'll go over some things during practice and hopefully we'll get back on a winning track this weekend."

UP NEXT: Centennial begins a two game road trip, starting off on Sunday Nov. 26, against Canadore at 2:00 pm.