Boxscore
Hamilton (February 19, 2009) - The McMaster Marauders defeated the Queen's Gaels 3-1 to capture the 2008-09 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's volleyball championship.
Queen's fell in four games 25-20,21-25,25-22, and 25-7 handing McMaster their second consecutive championship. McMaster won the best-of-three series in two games.
While Joren Zeeman of Cambridge, Ont., led the Gaels in scoring with 14 points, it was veteran Jeff DeMeza of Calgary who showed true heart.
Playing in his final Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) volleyball game DeMeza finished with 12 kills and five digs for 12 points.
Head Coach
Brenda Willis was proud of her fifth-year star, stating "Jeff has the biggest heart I know.... If you could score points for heart with Jeff on the court we would win."
DeMeza said his time at Queen's was great despite the bittersweet ending. " I am proud to be a part of this program;" he said. " I owe a a lot to Brenda and the university, they gave me the opportunity and let me do what I love everyday for the past five years.
Along with DeMeza, captain
Luke Lichty of St.Catharines, Ont., and libero
Stuart Hamilton of Ottawa both played their final game as Gaels.
Lichty showed amazing leadership returning for the Gaels playoff run after suffering a separated shoulder. Hamilton was awarded the Mikasa MVP of the game for Queen's recording nine digs in the four sets.
The Marauders took the first set with a 25-20 victory blocking the Gaels attack six times and picking up six digs. Queen's rallied back taking the second set 25-21 with
Michael Amoroso of Toronto getting the winning point off a key stuff block.
The Gaels found themselves down 23-16 in the third set, rallying back to within three but the set went to the Marauders 25-22. With their backs up against a wall Queen's fought hard in the fourth but fell 25 to 7.
Leading the way for McMaster was Peter Hrkal of Caledon, Ont., who produced 18 points on 15 kills and three blocks.
This was the third year in a row that Queen's and McMaster have met in the final with the Gaels taking the OUA crown in 2006-07. They have now finished in second place the last two seasons.
Zeeman finished the 2008-09 season as Gaels only first-team all-star leading the team with 245 points averaging over 3.8 points per game and hitting 209 kills. DeMeza followed in points with 223.50, and averaged 3.72 points per game, hitting 18 service aces.
DeMeza also garnered a second-team all-star nomination and both athletes were honoured following the game.
