KINGSTON, Ont. (September 30, 2016) - The Queen's Invitational men's volleyball tournament kicks off this weekend with all games taking place at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC). The tournament this year sees teams from across the country land in Kingston for volleyball action all weekend long.

Joining Queen's in the tournament are the Trinity Western Spartans from the Canada West Conference, Montreal Carabins from the RSEQ Conference and the McMaster Marauders from the OUA conference.

Tournament Schedule
Friday
McMaster 3, Montreal 2 (26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 25-27, 15-13)
Queen's 0, Trinity Western 3 (25-22, 28-26, 25-18)

Saturday
Montreal 3, Trinity Western 2 (25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 27-29, 15-12)
Queen's 1, McMaster 3 (25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22) 

Sunday
Trinity Western 2, McMaster 3 (25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 23-25, 15-11)
Queen's 0, Montreal 3 (25-17, 25-12, 25-19)

FRIDAY RECAPS
McMaster 3, Montreal 2 (26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 25-27, 15-13) BOXSCORE
The Queen's Invitational got started on the men's side with a thrilling five-set win for the OUA conference's McMaster Marauders over the Montreal Carabins from the RSEQ. After being up two sets to none, McMaster dropped two straight but close sets to the Carabins who forced a fifth and final.

The fifth set also came down to the wire, but it was McMaster who finished things off 15-13.

Godfrey Veyron-Trud led the way in the match with 22 kills for the Carabins while also adding 12 digs. For the Marauders it was Danny Demyanenko who had a game high 26.5 points to lead either team finishing with 21 kills, 17 digs, five assisted blocks and three service aces.

Queen's 0, Trinity Western 3 (25-22, 28-26, 25-18) BOXSCORE
The Gaels dropped a 3-0 decision to the visiting Trinity Western Spartans on Friday night at the ARC. Queen's looked to be in control in the opening set and took a 22-21 lead after Markus Trence put down a kill for the Gaels, but the Spartans fired off four straight points from there to take the set.

The Gaels found themselves ahead of the Spartans late in the second set as well up 23-19 looking to close out the set after two Zachary Hutcheson aces in a row. The Spartans, led by Blake Scheerhoorn brother of former Gael Tyler, notched four straight to even the set at 23. Both teams went back and forth but a Gaels attack error sent the set in favour of Trinity Western 28-16. The Spartans had no trouble closing out the match in the final set as they led 16-9 at the technical timeout and won 25-18 for the 3-0 victory.

Hutcheson finished with 10 points for Queen's off six kills, three aces and a solo block while Scheerhoorn led the Spartans with 21.5 points finishing with 19 kills on 27 attacks.

SATURDAY RECAPS
Montreal 3, Trinity Western 2 (25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 27-29, 15-12) BOXSCORE
The Montreal Carabins went the distance for the second time in as many days but this time were able to come out as they winning squad defeating the Trinity Western Spartans on Saturday afternoon at the ARC.

After the Spartans were able to force a fifth and final set with a 29-27 fourth set win, the Carabins sealed the match with a 15-12 final set despite trailing 10-8.

The Carabins had an outstanding performance from their setter Gabriel Chancy who fed the attack with 46 assists and chipped in defensively with 14 digs. Montreal will take on the host Gaels on Sunday while Trinity Western will meet McMaster. 

Queen's 1, McMaster 3 (25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22) BOXSCORE
It was a battle of two strong OUA programs on Saturday night at the ARC as the Gaels and Marauders renewed their rivalry. A close first set ended up going the Marauder way but the Gaels fought back in the second frame. With the set tied at 19-19 Queen's took six of the final seven points to claim a 25-20 set win.

Unfortunately for the Gaels the Marauders came out on the winning end of two more close sets and took the match 3-1. Zachary Hutcheson and Markus Trence each had 14 kills to lead the Gaels in the match. Queen's will close out the tournament on Sunday in search of their first win against Montreal while McMaster will meet Trinity Western. 

SUNDAY RECAPS
Trinity Western 2, McMaster 3 (25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 23-25, 15-11) BOXSCORE
After playing to a four set win and a five set win the Marauders went the distance again on Sunday in a rematch of the CIS final from earlier in the year. After taking the opening two sets McMaster had trouble closing out the Spartans who rallied to get themselves back into the match and force a fifth and final set.

The Marauders regained their composure and shut down Trinity Western with a 15-11 win in the fifth and deciding set.

Danny Demyanenko and Brandon Koppers combined for a 25 kill performance to lead the Marauders in the win. McMaster claimed the tournament champions title after going 3-0 over the three day affair.

Queen's 0, Montreal 3 (25-17, 25-12, 25-19) BOXSCORE
The home town team was unable to pick up a win at their Invitational tournament as they fell in straight sets to Montreal on Sunday afternoon.

The Gaels dug themselves into too much of a hole after dropping the opening set and only netting 12 points themselves in the second. A strong Montreal team sealed the win in the third with a 25-19 showing.

The Gaels were led on the afternoon by Markus Trence who had eight kills and 6 digs for the Gaels.

2016 Tournament Program