Mohawk men grab share of third in OCAA volleyball

The Mohawk men’s volleyball team started second semester play in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association on a winning note. The Mountaineers swept Conestoga Condors 25-13, 25-21, 25-21, at the Fennell Gym on Wednesday (Jan. 11).

Justin Scapinello

Justin Scapinello led the way with seven kills and one stuff block for Mohawk while Andrew Ross led in digs with a game high of eight.

Kyle Griffin was tops for Conestoga with nine points (eight kills and one block).

It was a good start to the second half of the season, said Mohawk head coach Matt Schnarr, but he felt his charges lost focus in the second set, even in winning.

“In the third set, I was able to use our depth and got a scrappy (effort) to take it in three. It was a great start for our additions Steve Pawelczyk and Marcin Jedrzjewski as they will be key pieces to our success in the stretch run,” said Schnarr. “We also got a good controlled and solid defensive effort by Justin Desroche as he also chipped in with match winning kill.”

Mohawk improved to 7-3 in the West Region and is tied with in third. Fanshawe while the visitors from Kitchener fell to 1-9.

Jenna Gignac

The news was not good for the Mohawk women, who bowed 3-2 to Conestoga (25-21, 25-23, 23-25,15-25, 15-13). But after a tough start, coach Andrew Nicholson noted an almost miraculous comeback just fell short. “Mohawk found it’s legs late in the match and had a chance to win in the fifth (set) when we were tied at 13 after coming back from 8-3 down. But two passing mistakes led to the loss at the end.”

Jenna Gignac led all scorers with 20 points from 16 kills, one ace and three blocks and added 20 digs, also a game-high. Ashley Hagen, Chi Chi Chuks-Mady and Kristin VanHartingsveldt each had six kills.

Chantel Renaud led Conestoga with nine points (seven kills, one ace and one block)

The Mountaineers are now 2-8, while the Condors improved to 4-6.