Niagara College Feb. 18 Sports Report
The Niagara College Knights women’s volleyball team advanced to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Final Four with a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-19, 25-18 and 28-26) over the visiting Redeemer Royals.
“We did it. We set out to make the Final Four and compete for a medal and we’ve accomplished it. We’re not done yet though. We are not satisfied. We just know this is another step in our story and our journey,” Niagara head coach Steve Stone said. “Proud of the girls’ grit and resilience showing once again you can never count us out. Redeemer is playing really high-level ball and they are a force so kudos to them. The ladies believed in each other and just kept fighting and playing aggressive and we came out with the result we wanted. Now we are on to the next challenge.”
Playing well for Niagara were: Sam Cormier with 13 points on eight kills, five blocks, one assist and a dig; Montanna Taylor with 10 points on five kills, 39 assists, 13 digs, four service aces and a block; and, Tess Kelly with 11 points on nine kills, one dig, a block and a service ace.
Taylor was named Niagara College’s Female Athlete of the Week.
“In her fifth year as a Knight, Montanna has been a leader for the team throughout the season as they continue their journey to the OCAA championship,” a Niagara College press release said.
Cormier of St. Catharines was named an OCAA West Division First Team All-Star, Taylor of St. Catharines was named an OCAA West Division Second Team All-Star and Laryssa Schipper was named to the West Division All-Rookie Team.
Fonthill’s Katherine Konkle, who plays for Durham, was also named a Second Team All-Star.
Niagara meets Humber Friday at 5 p.m. in semifinal action at Humber.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s women’s basketball team advanced to the OCAA quarter-finals with an 101-30 thrashing of St. Lawrence.
“We started our first round of playoffs playing great team basketball and look to carry that confidence into the next round,” head coach Kimbal Mackenzie said.
Top performers for Niagara were: Janee Harrison with 16 points and seven rebounds; Taryn Mitchell with 14 points and five rebounds; Alyah Pereira with 12 points; Lexxus Bell with 11 points and five rebounds; Destiny Pacquin with eight points and 10 rebounds; Eremwon Destiny with eight points; and, Emma Laslok with eight points.
“This was a great overall win for us. We went into this game knowing we had to win or our season would be over and we did just that,” Niagara player of the game Laslok said. “We worked as a team and got the job done. Everyone contributed. It was a team effort but we’re not done yet.”
Niagara hosts Fanshawe Saturday at 1 p.m. in quarter-final action.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s men’s volleyball season saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 road loss (18-25, 13-25 and 24-26) to Humber in the OCAA quarter-finals.
“Not the result you hope for but we also know that Humber is No. 1 for a reason. It was going to be a steep mountain to climb but we believed we could do it. Proud of the guys fight in the third set in particular,” Stone said. “Says a lot when you go down two and still come out swinging and fighting. I’m grateful for the boys’ efforts and growth throughout the season and wish all my graduating athletes nothing but the best. Also thankful for my coaching staff. They help make my job possible and we were in a good spot thanks to them.”
Leading the way for Niagara were: Ashton Nieuwets with eight points on eight kills, 11 digs and an assist; Wizdom Smith with six points on six kills, four digs and an assist; and, Riley Orr with six points on four kills, a block and a service ace.
Nieuwets was named Niagara College’s Male Athlete of the Week.
“Ashton, a fourth-year vet, has been a stable presence on the pin for the Knights and has been a fantastic player throughout the season,” a Niagara College press release said.
Smith was named to the West Division All-Rookie Team.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s men’s basketball team’s season came to a conclusion with a 93-69 road loss to Algonquin in the first round of the playoffs.
“We came up short of our ultimate goal and lost to a very good, well coached team in Algonquin,” Niagara head coach Lequan Hylton said. “It was not the way we wanted to end our season but our team and everyone who has been apart of our program this year has a lot to be grateful for. We all battled through adversity this season which ultimately helped us build our character.”
Top performers for Niagara were: Adrian Pajor with 14 points, three rebounds and one steal in 23 minutes; Kadin Moore with 11 points, four rebounds and an assist in 34 minutes; and, Isiah Panom with eight points, five rebounds, one assist and a block in 25 minutes.
