Knights volley for top 3 spot in OCAA East Division
Fleming men, women’s team lose home openers to La Cite
The Fleming Knights men’s volleyball team is aiming for a top three finish in the OCAA East Division.
The Knights women have set the playoffs as their goal.
Both teams will have to pick up their play after falling to 0-2 on the season in losing their home openers to La Cite Coyotes Saturday afternoon at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre. The men fell 3-1 and the women 3-0. Last week they fell to the George Brown Huskies on the road 3-2 for the men and 3-1 for the women.
The Knights’ men have made it to the OCAA championships three of the four years Mike Belsey has been head coach. Last year, they finished fourth in the East and won their crossover playoff game but lost to West No. 1 seed Fanshawe in the quarterfinal eliminating a medal opportunity. The key is to finish higher than fourth to avoid powerhouse Fanshawe in the quarter-finals, said Belsey.
Despite the loss of OCAA allstar and Peterborough native Erich Perau, who transferred to Georgian College, Belsey believes this year’s squad is stronger. “We’ve had four veterans come back for another year which will make us really strong,” he said. “I feel we’re a much better team overall. We have a strong offence; a big blocking team and we have experience which is good. We just need to put some things together and be more consistent.”
Middle Joel Howes, outside hitter Spencer Bieri and libero Jake Schuller are the veteran core. Second-year player Dion Pearson-Laviolette will take over Perau’s spot. Chad Muchmore is promising first-year starter and newcomer Colin Crain, of Port Hope, is a big acquisition at setter.
“We’re excited to have a really good setter because previously we had a libero setting and other players setting because we didn’t have a set setter,” said Belsey.
Howes, a fourth-year player, likes his team’s potential.
“If we can make it to provincials and not get put up against Fanshawe, who were undefeated last year, we could accomplish a little bit more at provincials,” said Howes. “We have a lot of offence and a lot of good defence. Our main issue was probably getting in our own heads.”
He says they need to be more consistent and not get down when things don’t go their way.
The men fell 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-20 to La Cite. Bieri led with seven kills, Pearson-Laviolette six, Howes five and Muchmore four.
Samantha Belsey, Mike’s daughter, is entering her fourth year as women’s head coach. She took over a team that hadn’t won a game in several years and steadily improved each season.
“We focused on getting 20 per cent better each year which we have,” she said.
“Last year we were knocking on the playoff door. I don’t think we were quite mature enough to take it.”
This year’s team is young but Belsey likes their potential.
“It’s about giving the girls the tools to be confident and to continue to grow their skills,” said Belsey.
The Knights feature two Peterborough girls; Crestwood grad Sarah Heffernan, who is in her second year, and Julia Reynolds, a first-year player from Thomas A. Stewart.
Heffernan likes the direction the team is headed.
“I’ve been watching Fleming play for a while now and watching them from where they used to be to where Sam has taken the team it has grown so much,” said Heffernan.
“I think we’ve improved so much even from tryouts,” said Reynolds. “We had a lot of practice this week, and it’s been tough, and our fitness is great. Our passes are getting a lot more accurate. We’re doing a lot of good things and changing our old habits into good habits.”
The women lost 25-16, 25-9, 25-6. Heffernan and Sara Grosse had two kills each for Fleming.