Knights remain unbeaten with win over Mustangs
Malic records 11 kills, 2 blocks in sweep
“WE’RE WORKING WELL TOGETHER.”
NICK MALIC
HOLY NAMES 3
MASSEY 0
Despite losing one of the league’s best power hitters, the Holy Names Knights have shown more than enough firepower to stay unbeaten in the top tier of boys volleyball.
Mandik Jandoria rolled an ankle on opening night but that hasn’t slowed the Knights on their march to a 4-0 record.
The Massey Mustangs came into Thursday’s match with a 2-1 record and thoughts of an upset but they left without picking up a single set.
Behind the play of setter Andrew Wasyluk, middle Keaton Rebkowec and leftside Nick Malic, the Knights swept aside the Mustangs 3-0 on sets of 2521, 25-20, 25-20.
“Nick and Keaton are really stable and Andrew is setting well,” Knights coach Mark Wasyluk said. “We’ve been lucky for the last four years. Someone gets hurt and someone else steps up.”
Grade 11 rookie Justin Lindsey stepped into Jandoria’s starting spot and chipped in with a couple of kills and a block.
Malic had 11 kills and two blocks and Rebkowec contributed eight kills, three blocks and an ace.
“At first, our chemistry was a little shaky because we’ve got some new guys but now we’re working well together,” Malic said.
An assortment of float serves and the odd spinner from Rebkowec seemed to handcuff the Mustangs defensively.
“It was all in our head today,” Massey power Casey Boroski said. “That’s a big thing for passing. Their serves weren’t that hard but we didn’t pass well.”
Malic and Rebkowec combined for seven of the Knights’ 10 kills in the opening set.
Blocking from both sides highlighted the second set and despite Massey rejecting six to two by Holy Names, the Knights got the key one by Lindsey to push it to match point at 24-21. A four-touch count against Massey gave the Knights’ game point on the next rally.
Both teams let the reserves on the court in the third, which was tied as late as 17-17.
“Today wasn’t that good but it’s a long way from over,” Boroski said.