March 2 Niagara College report: Volleyball and basketball

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Niagara College women’s volleyball team saw its season come to a conclusion with a 3-0 loss (25-23, 25-21 and 26-24) to the Durham College Lords in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association quarter-finals in North Bay.

The Knights entered the tournament as the fourth seed with a 12-6 record and had three close sets against Durham, which was ranked fourth in Canada. The Lords entered the game with an 18-0 record.

Top point scorers for Niagara in the match were Tamara Edwards (14), Victoria Golebiowski (11), Natasha Desjardins (8) and Kristen Oudman (7).

Prior to the OCAA championships, three members of the Knights were recognized for their outstanding play during the season. Desjardins was named an OCAA West Division First Team All-Star, Madelyn Berg was named an OCAA West Division Second Team All-star and Oudman was selected for the West Division All-Rookie Team

In Desjardins’ third season at Niagara, the Welland native averaged 3.6 points per set, recorded 240 points had a 2.93 kill percentage and 196 kills in 17 games.

St. Catharines native Berg followed up being named to the West Division All-Rookie team last season with an all-star award. The libero averaged 3.67 digs per and finished with 235, including a season-high 35 Nov. 8 versus Mohawk.

Oudman, a Wainfleet native, recorded 148 kills and averaged of 2.14 a match. She also averaged 2.7 points per set for a total of 186.

Other locals honoured by the OCAA were: Mohawk’s Kinsley Child from Wainfleet named a OCAA West Division First-Team All-Star; Mohawk’s Kaelyn Emslie from St. Catharines named a OCAA West Division Second-Team All-Star; and, Fanshawe’s Lauren Vahrmeyer from Vineland named to the West Division All-Rookie Team.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Niagara College’s men’s volleyball team was also ousted in the OCAA quarter-finals, falling 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 15-25 and 25-23) to the Georgian Grizzlies.

Niagara entered the tournament ranked 15th in Canada.

Top scorers for Niagara in the match were Samuel Otten (13), Elijah Bugiardini (10), Colin Prelaz (7) and Kyle Thiessen (6).

Prior to the championships, the OCAA presented awards to Otten, Bugiardini and Prelaz.

Otten was named an OCAA West Division First Team All-Star. He finished 2019-20 averaging 4.8 points-per-set for a total of 243 in 14 games played. The fifth-year Toronto native recorded 191 kills and his 3.75 kills per set ranked him fourth in the OCAA.

Bugiardini was named a OCAA West Division Second Team All-Star. The Hamilton native averaged 3.7 points per set for a total of 251 for 2019-20. He also recorded 202 kills, including an average of 2.97 per set. (2.97 K/S).

Prelaz was picked for the West Division All-Rookie Team. The outside hitter from London averaged 2.6 points-per-set for a season total of 171. He also recorded 145 kills.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Niagara’s men’s basketball team failed to earn a berth in the OCAA championships after falling 91-80 to the George Brown Huskies in qualifying action.

“We understood that this would be a difficult task to go in and beat one of the top teams in the province,” Niagara head coach Phil Mosley said. “We stayed within striking distance for most of the game, however, their size and depth proved to be too much in the end. I am so proud of our guys ability to battle through adversity and never quit.”

Performing well for Niagara in the loss were: Lequan Hylton with 17 points and seven boards; Johnnie Richardson with 15 points; Rahim Bardi with 13 points and five rebounds; Sterphone Augustin with 12 points, eight boards and five steals; Daniel Lokole with 12 points and five rebounds; and, Kennon Larmand with 11 points.

Fifth-year veteran Hylton saw his Niagara career end with the defeat.

“His outstanding leadership, toughness and overall play has set a high standard for future players,” Mosley said.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Niagara’s women’s basketball team saw its season end with a 71-44 loss to Algonquin College in OCAA qualifying action.

Leading the charge on the stats sheet for Niagara were: Terin Hultink with 14 points and 16 rebounds; Leanne Dekorte with 10 points and seven rebounds; Kaisen MacKinnon with seven points; Jessyka Maliksi with six points and, Beth deBoer with five points.