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| TEAM ONTARIO BADMINTON REPRESENTS WELL |  | |
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 February 16, 2010 - He is unassuming, a former OCAA Rookie of the Year, a two time All-Canadian and now, Ryan Talsma is the OCAA All-time leader in kills and total points, a feat that has been four years in the making.
Last Friday evening against Canadore College Talsma rewrote the record books for kills in a career and the following afternoon against Nipissing University became the OCAA career leader in total points. The veteran, broke the records in impressive fashion by putting up a combined 47 points over his two weekend games (20 vs Canadore, 27 vs Nipissing) and has expanded his total with a 3-0 defeat over the Mohawk Mountaineers where he added 11 kills, two aces and two blocks for an additional 15 total career points. His efforts bringing his career kill total to 716 and his point total to 895 with one game to go this season and another year of OCAA eligibility.
The previous Kills record was held by a pair of four year players George Macut of Mohawk College with 679, while the Total Points record was held by Brendan Barrett-Hamilton from Georgian/Cambrian College with 875. The two records were two of the longest standing records since the change to rally scoring in the sport of volleyball.
In his career, Talsma has a running total of 716 kills, 102 aces, 81 blocks, 159* digs (*in three years of stat taking in the OCAA) and 895 total points.
The only accolade that is missing from his collegiate resume is an OCAA Championship title and that could be looming in the near future. Wednesday night the two powerhouses of the West Region will face off in a winner take all match as the Royals travel into hostile territory to take on the Humber Hawks. Although both teams have already qualified for the championship rounds, bragging rights will be on the line and numerous sub-plots will continue to evolve.
Sub-Plot One: The potential All-Canadian showdown.
When Talsma and Humber standout rookie Terrel Bramwell square off on Wednesday, fans may be treated to a star studded performance that will feature two of the most dynamic and contrasting hitters in the game.
Bramwell, a thunderous hitter and momentum changer, currently leads the OCAA in kills per game with 4.81, but has played 13 less games than Talsma who sits third overall with 3.88 kills per game. Bramwell has also connected with more total kills than Talsma with 256 while the veteran has 228.
Defensively Talsma has proven he is the complete player and sits seventh in the West Division for digs with 73. Bramwell, also a solid defender, sits with 62 digs this season.
How do teams handle the bombers from behind the service line? Talsma leads the West with 34 aces this season, while Bramwell has 26.
Despite the varying differences in play, what fans in attendance will be assured with will be two top quality players going toe-to-toe for the West Region title in a winner take all format.
Sub-Plot Two: Home Court Advantage.
While playing at Humber can be difficult due to their boisterous fans, especially when there is hardware on the line, the story of the game may be what it will preview for the rest of the championship landscape?
Both teams have fans who are known to be VERY loud and proud and will most certainly give their team a distinct home court advantage (and innocent bystanders ringing ears). But, while winning the West Region is nice and is the first step in the championship process, both teams will have their eyes on the bigger prize, the OCAA Championship winning ticket that comes attached to a trip to the CCAA National Championship in Edmonton, Alberta.
And that is where Redeemer might hold a slight advantage. The Ancaster school is the OCAA championship host this season in what could be the loudest OCAA Championship final eight event ever. Hold on tight folks, because if you though the acoustics were good at Humber, just wait until you step into the home of the Royals when there is a championship title on the line.
Sign for your favourite player, check. Hollowed out volleyball for headwear, check. Throat lozenges, check. Ear plugs, check. You are now good to go cheer for three days.
Sub-Plot Three: Contrasting styles.
Yes, their fans may be similar in the ruckus department, but in the end the two teams on the court could not be any different.
Five years ago the Hawks finally broke a 30 year championship drought dating back to the 1973-74 & 74-75 seasons to give their school its third title ever. But since the 2004-05 season Humber has failed to advance past the provincial tournament. This season, they have played an uptempo game that revolved around their standout rookie and, as he goes, so does his team. Monster kills by Bramwell fire up his fans and his teammates and it has led them to a 13-2 record on the season including a 3-1 loss to Mohawk and a 3-2 loss to the Royals, all before the December break.
Redeemer on the other hand have been a team building towards a championship for four years and think they potentially have the championship puzzle solved. Although Talsma may be the headliner, they Royals team is deep and poised. Veteran Brad Douwes is capable of stealing a match and with the addition of a 6’4 rookie setter in Aaron Tolkamp, the Royals have found a key piece to their team that distributes the ball evenly and makes it tough for teams to key in on just one player. They are however not without their own Achilles heel, as they too are 13-2 on the season and have the Nipissing Lakers to thank for their woes, as the are the only team to date to have upended the giants in 3-1 and 3-2 losses.
Forget the sub-plots, ruckus fans and home court advantage, the bottom line is these gents can play and whoever wins the West will if nothing else have earned every bit of that Regional trophy.
BEASTS IN THE EAST
The Seneca Sting ended their season with a flurry of games, but that could be just what the doctor ordered heading into the OCAA championship playoffs. The Sting have one game left on the dance card against the Loyalist Lancers and have already punched their ticket to Redeemer earning the bye with 32 points and potentially another two this week. Regardless of the outcome, the Sting have already been crowned the East Region championship, dethroning the defending OCAA champions Algonquin Thunder who upset the top ranked Sting 3-1 (25-19, 14-25, 27-25, 25-16) this past week.
Brian Archerbald has been the dominant force for the Sting this season and sits near the top of most East Region statistical categories including third in kills per game with 3.13 and second in points per game with 4.00.
The Sting team posted two wins this past week over the Fleming Knights 3-1 (25-11, 20-25, 25-12, 25-20) and the La Cite Coyotes 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-22). Balance was the name of the game for Seneca as both games were complete team efforts.
Patrick Bissonnette of the Coyotes has an outstanding game posting 19 kills and one ace in the loss.
The Algonquin Thunder finished off their regular season with a pair of wins at home versus the Sting as well as the Georgian Grizzlies 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-19) which could prove to be a necessity in the playoff picture. Fourth year veteran Costa Solankis and his team will now have to rely on the good fortunes or misfortunes of their other East rivals in determining their final position, which could range from third and hosting their playoff crossover match, to fifth and traveling on the road. A potential sleeper team if they can advance, Algonquin has been in a medal game the past four years and in the gold medal game the past three, winning twice.
The Durham Lords, the most decorated team in men’s volleyball with 15 medals, will have their destiny in their own hands as a win will solidify the automatic bye into the big show in Ancaster. The Lords will face off against the Georgian Grizzlies who they swept 3-0 earlier this season with that game taking place on Wednesday evening in Bear Country.
If Durham should fail to walk away from the Georgian campus with a victory, let the fun begin. The team from Oshawa will need to hope the Loyalist Lancers, led by standout Kyle Donnan, falter against the top ranked Sting. The two teams opened the season with the Lancers getting stung 3-0 on the road. If the Lancers should upset the buzzing bees, and the Lords fail to earn a “w”, the Lancers will earn the bye and punch their ticket to Redeemer.
OCAA Championship Playoff Scenarios Click Here |
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