Lady Lakers heading to OCAA Championships

PETERBOROUGH – Playoff Sunday was bittersweet for the Nipissing Lakers volleyball teams as the Lady Lakers defeated Trent 3-0 while the men’s team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at the hands of the Excalibur.

LADY LAKERS PURSUE GOLD

The Lady Lakers victory ensured that the defending OCAA champions will be in the mix vying for the title as the top eight teams in the province battle for gold at Fanshawe College February 21-23, 2008.

The task however will not be an easy one. One year after claiming its first volleyball title, the championship team roster has changed significantly with eight new players joining the club in September.

“Coming into the season we knew we would have some growing pains along the way,” said head coach Marc LaRochelle. “We have made some significant strides since September and we are looking to continue our strong play of late.”

The Lady Lakers enter the tournament as the number two seed and will face the Georgian Grizzlies in the opening match scheduled for Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

Lakers fans can catch the action live as all games will be available via web cast at www.fanshaweathletics.ca

MEN END SEASON

If you believed in luck you would be hard pressed to think that the Lakers men team received any during the past week. The Lakers prepared for their playoff match with heavy hearts as a teammate was dealing with a sudden family emergency.

Sunday arrived and the team was ready for the battle. The two teams locked horns in the first set and fought point for point and with the Lakers leading late in the first set middle blocker Gerry Dupelle was forced to leave the match with a serious ankle sprain. The Lakers rallied and took the first set 25-22.

The Lakers Conrad Bedard came in to fill in the void left by Dupelle but midway through the third set Bedard was forced to leave the court for repairs as he also suffered an ankle sprain.

Throughout the adversity the Lakers managed to take a 2-1set lead but Trent’s strong defensive play in the fourth set allowed the home team to force a fifth and deciding set.

The final set proved to be a roller coaster ride for the fans as the Excalibur looked to have the match locked up leading 12-7 however the Lakers showed true character by clawing their way back into the match. The Lakers battle valiantly however in the end Trent came up with some key blocks and won the fifth and deciding set 18-16.

It was a disappointing finish for the Lakers who climbed the OCAA rankings to third and were considered by many to be serious medal contenders.

Submitted to BayToday.ca