Kajan Thiruthanikasalam (Sports Writer, Colts Athletics)
BELLEVILLE, ONT.- The title says it all.
The Centennial Colts (7-11) snapped their five game losing streak and clinched their first ever playoff berth since coming back into the OCAA in the 2015-16 season, dispatching the Loyalist Lancers (3-15) in straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-15). With the win, Centennial finishes the season with a program high in wins.
"Everything doesn't come about within a year or two so for us to come a long way three years in and make a playoff appearance, it means a whole lot," assistant coach Chichky Hua said. "We're happy but we still got to stay humble and be prepared for whatever matchup we have next."
The Colts needed either a win against the Lancers or a loss from the Seneca Sting against the Durham Lords to clinch and did not waste any time, taking care of business. They also rained on the Lancers' parade, as they showed no love for a Loyalist team that was celebrating Seniors Night in honour of their team's graduating student athletes.
"This week, we were focusing a lot and emphasizing on our first contact management whether it was at the service line or the first contact on serve received and on defense," Hua said. "Although we made some unforced errors in the first and second sets, I felt like we played cleaner than in games past."
Hua also acknowledges that the Lancers didn't play at their best.
"They had a few unforced errors of their own," Hua said. "But in this league, whether you win ugly or pretty, a win's a win. We're happy that we came out on top."
Sev Libramonte and Jordan Saddler led all scorers with 12 points each, with Saddler having a game high 12 kills. Griffin Dubbeld had a game high three blocks, Calvin Yu finished with a game high seven digs, and Adam Yu Qiu dished out a game high 24 assists in the win.
Centennial used a 6-0 run to break a 9-9 tie and kept Loyalist at bay in the first set. A kill from Libramonte wrapped up a 25-19 first set win for the Colts.
The second set was much closer as the Lancers rallied to take an 18-17 lead late after being down by as many as four early on (13-9). However, a kill from Saddler, his fourth of the set, sparked Centennial as they closed out the set on an 8-2 run. Qiu capped it off with a massive block as the Colts took the second set, 25-20. Libramonte had five kills and Saddler had four kills during the second set alone.
Libramonte and Saddler each had three kills during the third set in which they never trailed. A kill from Libramonte closed out the set and the match as the Colts took the third set, 25-15, and sent the Colts bench into a frenzy.
"For us to have a playoff berth of any magnitude is a testament to the dedication, time, and effort that (head coach) Alain (Arseneau), Dave Egan, and I have put into this program," Hua said.
HIGHLIGHTS
Despite Loyalist outpacing Centennial in aces (10-4) and digs (23-21), the Colts obliterated the Lancers in kills (29-17), assists (26-16), and blocks (9-4). Also, Centennial committed less errors on the attack (16-9) and on the service (12-6).
Notably, in the third set, kills from Qiu and Libramonte got the Colts bench and the Colts women's volleyball team out of their seats.
TRUST THE PROCESS: THE GROWTH OF THE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM
The men's and women's volleyball programs each finished with their best regular seasons this year since coming back in the OCAA and Hua says continuity has played a key factor.
"The college program can be short and sweet for some players but there are some players on the women's and men's team that have played three or four years and so a lot of relationships are built and the younger players feed off of the veteran players," Hua said. "To be united on that front is very gratifying to see and for a program that is still in its infancy, I think, is a very positive thing that we can build for the program moving forward."
WHAT'S NEXT FOR CENTENNIAL
Although Centennial clinched their first playoff berth, their matchup to determine who advances to provincials will be tough as they head to London, Ont., to play the undefeated Fanshawe Falcons (18-0). Hua says that the missed opportunities that the team had to win more games could have led to potentially a more favourable crossover match.
"When you look at the three teams that were ahead of us (Algonquin, La Cite, and Durham) in the standings, those teams were very beatable. We beat Durham twice during the season," Hua said.
With that being said, however, Hua says that the lack of pressure that comes with being an underdog can be an advantage for the Colts.
"Teams are going to be battling regardless and in terms of the parity of the league, I think that teams can win on any given night depending on what performance they bring on the floor," Hua said. "We'll have a few days to rest up and prep for a team like Fanshawe (who are) well coached and will be firing on all cylinders so hopefully we can take a look at some video, go back, and come up with a few tactics and strategies to combat them this weekend."
Which leaves one final question. Are the Colts ready to shock the world on Saturday?
"Absolutely," Hua said.