The host Camosun Chargers missed the podium in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national men’s volleyball championship on Saturday.
Playing for bronze, the Chargers were upended in a five-set thriller by the Keyano Huskies of Fort McMurray (Alberta), 25-16, 22-25, 11-25, 28-26 and 15-13. It was a rematch from the Chargers‘ three-set sweep of the Huskies in the opening round on Thursday.
#CCAAmvb2018 | Your Gold, Silver & Bronze medalists – plus the Championship Day Recap! Congrats to all. pic.twitter.com/hvINYPnmeF
— CCAA🇨🇦ACSC (@CCAAsportsACSC) March 11, 2018
In the gold medal game, the Titans de Limoilou (Quebec City) broke a three-year run as silver medalists by winning their first national gold medal since 2010 with a four set victory over the Fanshawe Falcons, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22 and 25-19.
The Charger’s run towards the championship ended on Friday, when it lost to the eventual champions Titans de Limoilou in the semifinal by 3-2 in sets.
The Chargers earned the right to play in the national championship hosted at the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence by winning a fourth-straight Pacwest title in Abbotsford on Feb. 26, beating the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
Several Chargers put in career efforts throughout the weekend. In the bronze medal game the Chargers twice had match point in the fourth set but couldn’t close it out. Offensively, Matt Bowers was named player of the match with 16 kills and 14 digs. Eduardo Bida was also solid with 16 kills and Rian Plante added 11 kills and 10 digs.
On Thursday, Charger Jerome Cross was a one-man wrecking crew as he made an impressive 20 kills and had a pair of blocks.
Libero Elion Wong was named the player of the match in the Chargers’ Saturday morning win over V.I.U. Mariners with 17 digs on the back court. Offensively, Cross put on another hitting display with 32 kills, 10 digs, a block and an ace. Bowers had 10 kills.
reporter@saanichnews.com
