OSHAWA, Ont. – The Durham College men's volleyball team have punched their ticket to the OCAA championship after a straight-set victory over the Humber Hawks on Sunday afternoon at the CRWC.
 
The qualifying match featured the Lords, who finished third in the east division, and Hawks, who finished sixth in the west.
 
Although Humber finished in the final playoff spot the match was tightly contested as the teams traded points and couldn't get much of a lead in the opening set. Durham eventually found a way to score back-to-back points late to win 25-23.
 
In the final two sets the Lords won by the same margin each time, 25-19, to sweep the match in straight sets, 3-0.
 
Durham advanced to the OCAA championship with the win and will open the tournament against the Niagara Knights on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at Seneca College.
 
Niagara enters the championship as the defending champions as they beat St. Clair 3-1 in last year's gold medal game on the Saints' home court.
 
This is Durham's fourth straight year qualifying for the provincial championship. The team will be looking to earn the program's first medal since 2006 when they won a silver medal.
 
Harrison Wood (Nebraska, U.S.) led the Lords with a game-high 13 points, which was highlighted by his 12 kills. Erik Janssen (Hampton, Ont.) added seven kills, an ace and a block for Durham, while Matt McGirr (Brampton, Ont.) earned six kills, three service aces and three blocks.
 
Rory Langley (Uxbridge, Ont.) had 29 assists, alongside his game-high nine digs and one block. Nick Coleman (Brooklin, Ont.) led the game at the net with five blocks.
 
Damin Noss (Woodville, Ont.) had career-high six kills after coming off the bench in the second set for an injured Andrew Watson (Uxbridge, Ont.).
 
Humber's Clayton Blanchette led their offence with eight kills and an ace. Zac Cowl had six kills, two aces and a block, while Stefan Vukmanovic led the Hawks with four blocks.
 
OCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (HOSTED BY SENECA)
Thursday, Feb. 25
Game 1 – Fleming vs. Mohawk – 1 PM
Game 2 – Niagara vs. Durham – 3 PM
Game 3 – Fanshawe vs. Trent – 6 PM
Game 4 – Seneca vs. Sheridan – 8 PM
 
Friday, Feb. 26
Game 5 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 1 PM
Game 6 – Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 3 PM
Game 7 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 6 PM
Game 8 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – 8 PM
 
Saturday, Feb. 27
Consolation Final – 12 PM
Bronze Medal Match – 2 PM
Gold Medal Match – 5 PM
 
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 22-15
Conference Record: 16-4
 
Next Game: Thursday, Feb. 25 vs. Niagara (3 PM) – OCAA Championship