Photo credit Josh Schaefer
Photography
SASKATOON (CIS) – Third-year outside hitter Ryan Sclater
powered the Canada West-silver medalist Trinity Western University
Spartans to a straight set 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-19) victory over
the Quebec-champion Universite Laval Rouge et Or Thursday night at
the 2015 CIS Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Post-game coaches
interviews
Trinity Western will face the Ontario champion and No. 1 seed
McMaster Marauders in the second of two semifinal matches Friday
night in the University of Saskatchewan Physical Activity Complex,
with the first serve set for 8 p.m. (CST).
Sclater recorded a match-high 11 kills and six digs in the win.
Named the player of the match for the Spartans, he also added two
service aces and one block assist. CIS MVP Nicholas Del bianco
added another 10 kills for Trinity Western.
Olivier Jannini led the Rouge et Or with nine kills, while Vincente
Ignacio Parraguirre Villalobos added another seven. Bruno Lortie
led Laval with seven digs.
“It was a good match for us,” said Spartans head coach
Ben Josephson. “The guys executed what we were trying to do
tactically. We wanted to dictate the emotion of the match and I
thought the guys did a good job of that.”
Trinity Western jumped out to a large lead to start the match with
an 8-2 lead. In the run, Del bianco tallied two kills. Service
errors seemed to be a problem for both teams with eight in the set.
Laval couldn’t recover from the early lead the Spartans
built, losing 25-14.
The Spartans once again jumped to an early lead in the second set
taking a 10-1 lead and not looking back to win 25-14.
Laval was able to stay closer with the Spartans in the deciding
third match. Bruno Lortie tied the set at 12 with an attack Trinity
Western couldn’t dig. A Blake Sheerhoorn kill and a Laval
ball handling error on the next play gave the Spartans a 14-12
lead. The Rouge et Or player of the match Jannini pulled his team
within one but trading service errors, Trinity Western stayed ahead
15-14. Scheerhoorn rallied his team and a kill started a six point
run. The Rouge et Or couldn’t recover from the large lead
garnered by the Spartans. Trinity Western took the match with the
25-19 win.
Laval head coach Pascal Clement was disappointed with the loss.
“I would like to congratulate the Trinity Western
team,” he said. “This was one of the worst performances
our team has had… I hope the returning players can learn
from the hardships.”
Laval will drop to the consolation semifinal to face the host-Saskatchewan Huskies, who lost in three sets to McMaster.
STAT LEADERS
Trinity Western
Kills: Ryan Sclater (11), Nicholas Del bianco (10)
Points: Ryan Sclater (13.5)
Blocks: Blake Scheerhoorn, Daniel Grant (5)
Digs: Ryan Sclater (6)
Service aces: Adam Schriemer, Ryan Sclater (2)
Player of the match: Ryan Sclater
Laval
Kills: Olivier Jannini (9)
Points: Olivier Jannini (9.5)
Blocks: Bruno Lortie (1)
Digs: Bruno Lortie (1)
Service aces: None
Player of the match: Olivier Jannini
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times CENTRAL TIME)
Thursday, February 26
13:00 Quarter-final #1: Dalhousie 3, York 2 (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 16-25, 15-13)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: Alberta 3, Waterloo 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-22)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: Trinity Western 3, Laval 0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-19)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No 8 Saskatchewan vs. No. 1 McMaster (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Friday, February 27
13:00 Consolation #1: No. 7 York vs. No. 6 Waterloo (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Consolation #2: No. 4 Laval vs. No. 8 Saskatchewan (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Semifinal #1: No. 3 Alberta vs. No. 2 Dalhousie (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
20:00 Semifinal #2: No. 5 Trinity Western vs. No. 1 McMaster (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Saturday, February 28
14:00 5th place (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
16:00 Bronze medal (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
19:00 Championship final (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
