Mountaineers varsity highlights – February 24, 2023

Both Mohawk Mountaineers volleyball teams have clinched their spot into a medal match at the OCAA Championship. As of this writing, both squads will be competing in the OCAA semifinals on Friday night.

Mountaineers men’s volleyball is competing at Fanshawe College after they defeated the Durham Lords 3-0 in the OCAA qualifying round and also picked up a 3-0 win over the Georgian Grizzlies – the best team from the OCAA East division – in the quarter-final match. Mohawk will now play the defending provincial champion Humber Hawks in the semifinals.

Mohawk’s women’s team has had equal success. They won their qualifying round match 3-0 versus the Canadore Panthers and again won 3-0 in the quarter-final over the Conestoga Condors. The women will play the Durham Lords in the OCAA semi-final match.

This is the second consecutive year women’s volleyball has qualified for the OCAA semifinals.

Both volleyball teams also took home some individual awards at their respective banquets.

Anika Gatto and Rachel Vanderwal of women’s volleyball were named OCAA First-Team All-Stars, while teammates Yvonne Mann was named an OCAA Second-Team All-Star.

On the men’s side, Turner Neame was named an OCAA First-Team All-Star. Teammates Anthony Beijes and Joel Sloots were honoured as OCAA Second-Team All-Stars, and Peter Pilling was named to the OCAA All-Rookie Team.

On the basketball front, Mohawk women finished their 2022-23 season with three consecutive wins and prepare for the OCAA playoffs. While the men continue to be nationally ranked at number 12, finishing the season 14-4.

Reminder: The Mountaineers announced that tickets for the CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship are now on sale and can be found here.

Mountaineers Athletes of the Week

(in partnership with the Mohawk Students’ Association)

Ashley Gibbons (women’s volleyball)

Gibbons (Hamilton, ON) was a spark for the Mountaineers in their three set road playoff win over the Canadore Panthers. The second-year middle was a perfect four-of-four on attacks and was in the right spots at the right time. Gibbons also contributed two aces and two digs.

Peter Pilling (men’s volleyball)

Pilling (St. Catharines, ON) was spectacular at the setter position for the Mountaineers this past weekend in their OCAA crossover playoff match versus the Durham Lords. In the 3-0 victory, the first-year had 32 assists, and added two kills.

Anthony Beijes (men’s volleyball)

Beijes (Hamilton, ON) wasn’t named a Mountaineer Athlete of the Week, but did receive OCAA Star of the Week honours. Beijes was a standout star for the Mohawk Mountaineers in their OCAA crossover playoff match versus the Durham Lords on Feb. 18. Winning 3-0 as a team, Beijes helped lead the Mountaineers to their first OCAA championship tournament appearance since the 2016-17 season. The third-year outside hitter finished with a match-high 15 points versus the Lords on 11 kills, three blocks, three digs and a service ace.

Results

Men’s Basketball (14-4)

Feb. 18: Lost 92-86 to the St. Clair Saints

Women’s Basketball (5-11)

Feb. 18: Won 64-62 over the St. Clair Saints

Women’s Volleyball

Feb. 18: Defeated the Canadore Panthers 3-0 in the OCAA qualifying round

Feb. 23: Won 3-0 over the Conestoga Condors in the OCAA quarterfinals

Men’s Volleyball

Feb. 18: Won 3-0 versus the Durham Lords in the OCAA qualifying round

Feb. 23: 3-0 victory over the Georgian Grizzlies in the OCAA quarterfinals

Next week’s schedule

Friday, February 24:

Men’s volleyball will play the Humber Hawks in the OCAA semifinals at Fanshawe College. Match begins at 6 p.m.
Women's volleyball play the Durham Lords at 8 p.m. in their OCAA semi-final match. The game takes place at Sheridan College’s Oakville campus.

Saturday, February 25:

Men’s basketball will host an OCAA qualifying round game inside the DBARC versus the Algonquin Wolves. Tip-off is at 3 p.m.
Women’s basketball head to Ottawa, ON to play the Algonquin Wolves in their OCAA qualifying round game. They tip-off at 2 p.m.
Both volleyball teams will play in an OCAA medal match. Details for this will be released on the Mountaineers website when available.

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