Kingston, Ont..(Februaruy 16, 2009) – It's déjà vu all over again as the Queen's Gaels and McMaster Marauders for the 2008-09 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Men's Volleyball Championship, presented by Mikasa Sports Canada.
This series can be considered the rubber match as these teams have battled in the two previous OUA finals, with both schools winning one title each. The Marauders, the No. 5-ranked team in the nation, are the defending OUA champions as they knocked off the Gaels in two-straight three-set sweeps on each team's home court last season.
It took a full three matches in 2006-07 for the Gaels to defeat the Marauders. Two matches went the full five sets as Queen's went on to win its second-straight OUA crown in Game 3 on home court.
McMaster (18-3) and Queen's (17-4) were the two powerhouses in OUA men's volleyball again this season, with both schools finishing in first and second place respectively. These teams defeated the other on its home court during the regular season. The Marauders upended the Gaels 3-1 (25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21) in Hamilton, Ont. on Nov. 8, while the Gaels returned the favour in Kingston, Ont. on Jan. 10 with a dramatic 3-2 (24-26, 15-25, 25-22, 25-9, 17-15) victory. That outcome ended McMaster's run at perfection, as the Marauders won 10 straight to open the regular season.
Both teams earned a bye into the OUA semi-finals, with McMaster making short work of the Guelph Gryphons on home court, winning 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-22) on Saturday. Marauders left side Peter Hrkal (Caledon, Ont.) had an all-around good game with 10 kills and seven digs, both team-highs.
Queen's had a tougher time against the upstart Waterloo Warriors, hanging on to win 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 17-15). Four Gaels reached double-digits in kills, with outside
Joren Zeeman (Cambridge, Ont.) leading the way with 16. Also contributing kills were outside
Jeff DeMeza (Calgary, Alta.) with 12, middle
Michael Amoroso (Toronto, Ont.) with 11 and outside
Niko Rukavina (Mississauga, Ont.) with 10.
The best-of-three series, which begins at Queen's Bartlett Gymnasium on Feb. 17, features four First Team OUA All-Stars in McMaster brother combination Jeremy and Nathan Groenveld (Welland, Ont.), Hrkal and Zeeman of Queen's. DeMeza of the Gaels was named a Second Team All-Star, while McMaster's Shayne Petrusma (Bowmanvill e, Ont.) was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team. OUA All-Stars are presented by Mikasa Sports Canada. Nathan Groenveld and DeMeza are fifth-year players who will appear for the final time on home court in this series.
The Gaels have a nine-game win streak against OUA competition in Kingston, however, the last three games have gone the full five sets. The series shifts to McMaster's Burridge Gymnasium on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21, if necessary. Both teams have identical 10-1 records at home, with each home loss coming against the Western Mustangs.
The winner of the OUA championship will represent the conference at the 2008-09 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Men's Volleyball Championship from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Edmonton, Alta.
2008-09 OUA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
(Presented by Mikasa Sports Canada)
Feb. 17, 2009
Game 1 - McMaster @ Queen's
Feb. 19, 2009
Game 2 - Queen's @ McMaster
Feb. 21, 2009
Game 3 - Queen's @ McMaster*
* - If necessary
