Women's Volleyball (12-6)
Algonquin was on the road this past weekend to face off against the Fleming Phoenix (0-18) and the Durham Lords (14-4) in their final two games of the regular season. Entering the weekend, the Wolves were guaranteed a home crossover match, but there was the possibility to move up in the standings. In the end, Algonquin went 1-1 and finished 4th in the OCAA East.
On Saturday night the Wolves were looking for a similar outcome to their first meeting against Fleming where they won 3-0, and the match was following a similar script in the start. the first 2 sets 25-9 and 25-16. The Phoenix began to fight back in the 3rd set, but the Wolves serving game was too much for Fleming to handle as the Wolves tallied 17 aces for the match and ultimately won the 3rd set 25-21. Grace Pate led the Wolves with 8 kills and 3 aces, while Carys Thenthorey added 7 aces and 2 blocks.
On Sunday, the team was in a pivotal match against the Durham Lords (14-4), as a 3-0 victory would have given the Wolves a chance to move up in the standings. The opening set was a nail-biter, with Algonquin trailing 24-22 before Natasha Lauzon and Grace Pate delivered back-to-back kills to tie the score. Pate continued her clutch performance, scoring the final two points to secure a 27-25 win for the Wolves. The second set was equally intense, going point-for-point before Durham edged out a 31-29 victory, and thus locking the Wolves into 4th place in the standings. The Lords went on to take the next 2 sets and won the match 3-1 Grace Pate led the Wolves again with 13 kills and two aces, while Lauzon recorded seven kills and six aces. Riley Lancia also had a standout performance, finishing with eight kills, five aces, and two blocks.
The Wolves now will now prepare for their OCAA Crossover match as they will host the Cambrian Golden Shield on Saturday, February 8th at the ARC.
Men's Volleyball (8-10)
The men's team was looking to wrap up their regular season on a high note, as the team was coming off of a heartbreaking 5-set loss to the #1 team in the East, the Georgian Grizzlies. The team also had a possibility to move up 1 spot in the standings if they got some help from other teams, but after finishing the weekend 1-1 they settled for 7th place in the OCAA East.
The Wolves began their final weekend series against the Fleming Phoenix in Peterborough. Algonquin took the first meeting 3-0, but this match would not be as easy. The first set saw the Phoenix make several fantastic defensive efforts, and made it difficult for the Wolves to find their rhythm. The two teams went point for point, but after a costly hitting error, the Phoenix took set 1 25-23. The Wolves were able to regroup for the next two sets as their offense and serve received dialed in, winning 25-17, 25-14. The 4th set was similar to the first, where Fleming refused to go down quietly, and forced the set into extra points. With the set tied at 29, Liam Arnold-Paquette delivered back-to-back aces to seal the win for the Wolves. Arnold-Paquette finished with 7 kills, 3 aces and 4 blocks, while Karl Rawlins added 11 kills.
The Wolves then played the Durham Lords to finish the regular season, and both teams looked to be in playoff form. The Lords quickly won the first two sets, 25-19, 25-19, putting the Wolves on their heels. However, in the 3rd set with the score 26-25 and match point for the Lords, Liam Arnold Paquette came up big with a kill off the block to tie the set. Karl Rawlins then came through with a huge kill from the middle to give the Wolves the set. Algonquin went on to take the 4th set 25-22 to force a 5th and deciding set. In what was a thrilling end to the match, both teams went point for point until the Lords took the set and match thanks to a timely block. Arnold-Paquette was once again a force on offense finishing with 20 kills and 2 aces. Mateo Nunez-Kruus capped off his impressive rookie season with a 12 kill, 1 ace and 5 block performance.
The Wolves will now travel to Sudbury to take on the #2 seed in the West, the Cambrian Golden Shield in their OCAA crossover match on Sunday February 9th.
Women's Basketball (12-0)
On Friday January 31st our Wolves women's basketball team took on the George Brown Huskies (2-10) in front of a large crowd at the ARC. The night marked the final regular season home game for 11 graduating seniors. Prior to the game a brief ceremony was held to honour their achievements and thank them for their valuable contributions to the Algonquin women's basketball program.
Much to the delight of the crowd at the ARC, the Wolves pulled off a dominant defensive performance holding George Brown to 31 points on just 22.7% from the field on route to a 70-31 win. Their best defensive quarter was the 3rd when they gave up just 3 points to the Huskies. Piper Hatherall led the way for the Wolves with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Cianah Miller had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Libby Hirst and Dasia McDonald had 8 points each, Hirst added 10 boards.
The win clinched the #1 seed in the East for the 3rd straight season putting Algonquin in a position to host the OCAA Final 4 should the team reach that stage. The Wolves will hit the road to Belleville on Friday February 7th to take on the Loyalist Lancers at 6:00 pm before finishing off the regular season on Saturday February 8th at 1:00 pm in Kingston against the St. Lawrence Surge. The team will be back at the ARC on February 15th for the 1st round of the OCAA playoffs.
Men's Basketball (10-6)
Friday was also senior night for our men's team. Prior to the game head coach Trevor Costello took the mic to share stories and thank our 7 graduating seniors for their valuable contributions to our men's basketball program.
As for the game, it was a big one for the Wolves who were hoping to bounce back after two road losses the week prior. They took on the George Brown Huskies (6-8) who they beat 72-63 in the first semester.
It was fitting that 5th year senior Simon Desta got the scoring started on the 1st possession with a deep 3 ball from the top of the arc to get the home crowd going. The Wolves played one of their most impressive defensive games, holding the Huskies to 11, 13 and 12 points in the first 3 quarters on route to a 74-58 win. Albert Opena had 9 points in the 4th quarter for a game-high 15. Ted Braden came up 1 rebound shy of a double double with 12 points and 9 boards. Simon Desta had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists on senior night.
The Wolves currently sit in 4th in the OCAA East standings with their fate in their hands hoping to host a 1st round playoff game. They will finish off the regular season on the road with a date with Loyalist on Friday and St. Lawrence on Saturday.
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