LANCERS SHOW PROMISE LEADING INTO SECOND HALF
Record: 3-6 (Seventh place in OCAA East Division – top 8 qualify for playoffs)
Notable player stats:
Fourth-year outside hitter Josh Roberts (76 kills - 3.6 points per set), second-year outside hitter Caleb Seguin (59 kills - 2.9 points per set), first-year middle Jaden Collier (38 kills - 2.2 points per set and has recorded 23 blocks for the season).
Breakdown:
As one of the younger team competing in the OCAA's east division, the Lancers have shown tremendous promise throughout the first half of the season. The team opened the year on a high note with a 3-0 win over the Centennial Colts and earned victories over the Seneca Sting and La Cite Coyotes. Despite their 3-6 record, the Lancers finished out the semester with a pair of heartbreaking 5 set losses to two of the top three teams in the division –Georgian Grizzlies and Canadore Panthers. In both games, the Lancers showed incredible growth in both their physical play and mental strength.
Veteran trio Josh Roberts, Caleb Seguin and Savino Marques combine to add critical leadership to the young squad. Marques, a second year player within the OCAA, has shown off an incredible set of skills as the team's primary setter while Roberts continues to dominate both offensively and defensively. First year players Riley Litwiller, Jaden Collier and Andrew Hudgins made an immediate impact on their team. Litwiller brings solid offense and a tough serve while Collier and Hudgins have flourished in their role as middles. Both first year middles have done a great job of speeding up their game to adjust to the OCAA and shown consistent improvements in blocking and their attacks.
The Lancers have found consistency at the service line and currently sit in third in the OCAA in aces. The team ranks sixth in total attacks with 821 and hold a hitting percent of .250, which ranks them fifth in the league.
Players to Watch:
With many players positioned to have a dominant second half, Roberts, Marques, Seguin and Collier are the current ones to watch. A solid Marques-Seguin connection could prove to be winning offensive formula for the Lancers while consistent defence from Roberts and Collier provides the team with options and opportunities.
Second half preview:
The Lancers look to start the second half of the season with a pair of wins when they take on the La Cite Coyotes (0-9) and Fleming Knights (5-4) at home on January 11th and 15th. The team then kicks off the first of a three game road-stand against the George Brown Huskies in a key match up on January 18th before coming back home to host the Seneca Sting on Saturday February 1st. The Lancers wrap up the regular season at home against the Algonquin Thunder on February 15th with hopes of playoffs set to begin the following weekend.