SHERIDAN 3, ST. CLAIR 0 (FINAL)

OAKVILLE, Ont. - While they may have squandered a few opportunities to close out sets and the match in emphatic fashion, the Sheridan Bruins men's volleyball team (17-9, 6-4 OCAA) made enough plays down the stretch to grind out a straight sets win over St. Clair in their first OCAA West contest of the new semester.

"That's what we're going to have be in the second half, a gritty and grind-it-out type of team," head coach Dave McAllister said. "We only have nine, maybe 10 players this semester. The guys re-committed and dedicated themselves to their fitness, to effort, to attitude and to playing great defence and touching every ball. That's what we're going to have to do. We're not necessarily going to be fantastic, we're going to have to play gritty volleyball."

In the first set the double-blue looked to be fully in command with a 16-11 lead, but saw St. Clair pull closer at 20-16, before eventually taking the opener 25-22.

The second second and third sets were similar in that Sheridan was in command, but were unable to completely steamroll their opponents.

They both featured some long rallies where both sides were able to dig balls off the floor to extend the play, but ultimately the Bruins took both sets, 25-19 and 25-22.

Jeremy Fantin led the team with 12 points (eight kills, four blocks) while Cody Williams (10 kills), Frank Pento (eight kills, one ace), Bruno Leite (five kills, three blocks) and Dillion Ljubicic (five kills, two blocks) chipped in offensively.

The Bruins currently sit tied for fifth place with 12 points, six points ahead of seventh place Niagara. They travel to Conestoga on January 18.

As the season builds towards its eventual crescendo in the playoffs, the focus of some teams could veer from the present towards the future but McAllister doesn't believe that will be a problem for his squad.

"With these guys I don't think we have to worry about that," he said. "Our team has changed from the first semester and from last year. We know exactly what we are and that's a good thing. They're not going to let us get ahead of ourselves, I certainly won't, and that will be a fact."

Blue notes: After going 4-0 to repeat as champions at the Fleming tournament last weekend, the Bruins have now won five straight in 2012.

Source: Sheridan I.T.