Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports HALTON TRANSMISSION "Connected to your Community" 559 SPEERS RD., #UNIT 3 905-842-0725 31 | Thursday, November 14, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Familiar foe denies OT Georgetown defeats Red Devils in senior volleyball final town capped its perfect Halton season by taking the last two sets by scores of 25-20, Oakville Beaver Staff 25-22. If anyone knew what the Red Devils were When his team faced the Oakville Trafalgar facing, it was OT coach Avnel Samiky, who Red Devils in the first week of the Halton assisted with the Georgetown program last high school senior boys' volleyball regular year. Yet Samiky wasn't willing to concede season, Kyle Stewart was impressed with the title to the Rebels. "That's the charm of the finals," he said. what he saw on the other side of the net, "You can win, you can lose. even if it wasn't quite a finAnd the strongest team doesn't ished product. always win. It's whoever plays "I thought, `These guys are better that day." athletic, they're pretty big. It Samiky's players weren't could very well be the two of willing to concede, either. us in the final, just like the old In each of the final two sets, days,'" the Georgetown Rebthings looked bleak before OT els coach said. "And here we staged late rallies. In the secare. And they've come a long ond, the Red Devils trailed 21way." 14 before clawing their way What Stewart didn't know back to 22-20 thanks to some was that OT was lucky to even outstanding blocking by Dobhave a team on the court that son, Malcolm Prentice and first week. Patrick Smith. "When we played them beKyle Stewart OT carried over its play into fore, we only had six guys," Georgetown volleyball coach the third set. It took its first said OT's Kenni Dobson. "We lead of the match, jumping in knew even if we only had six, front 4-1 in the third. Georgetown regained we were going to play the season." The Devils eventually enlisted a few more the lead with a six-point run and never surrecruits, boosting their roster to nine play- rendered it. The Rebels built a 17-11 advaners. And following the loss to Georgetown, tage that OT would cut back to one point they won nine straight matches and finished at 18-17 and then, down 24-19, staved off the regular-season with a 10-2 mark, then match point three times before Georgetown added playoff wins over Loyola and Milton. clinched the title. With only two graduating starters -- But their task in Tuesday's final at Sheridan College was a not an easy one. The Devils Braden Taylor and Jonathan Houston -- would have to find a way to take three sets Oakville Trafalgar could very well be poised from Georgetown, a team that came in with to take another run at Georgetown next a perfect 14-0 record, having not dropped a year. It could rekindle a once-heated rivalry that saw the two schools win nine of the single set all season. Like the season itself, OT got off to a slow 10 boys' volleyball titles between 1998 and start. Georgetown reeled off eight straight 2007. Five different teams won in the next points to close a 25-13 victory in the opener. five years, until Georgetown defended its The Red Devils would show much better in title Tuesday. Next year, OT will be looking to wrestle the final two sets, but like everyone before them, they couldn't top the Rebels. George- the title back for the first time since 2009. by Herb Garbutt www.haltontransmission.com (In September), I thought... it could very well be the two of us in the final. Oakville Trafalgar players Braden Taylor (5) and Patrick Smith (10) attempt to block a hit by Georgetown's Jake McNeil Tuesday at Sheridan College. | photo by Riziero Vertolli -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Balanced Blakelock squad crowns King's, finishes Tier 2 season unbeaten by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff With the teams having gone to three sets in their Halton high school senior boys' volleyball regular-season meeting, it wasn't surprising to see the T.A. Blakelock Tigers and King's Christian Collegiate Cavaliers slugging it out early in Tuesday's rematch. At times, each team looked like it was going to dominate. But in the end, it came down to two teams standing toe-to- toe, going for the kill. The lead in the opening set changed hands four times after the squads were tied at 21. Blakelock actually faced set point twice before Jovan Stojanovic delivered a pair of big kills as part of a three-point run that helped secure a 28-26 Tigers win. Blakelock, a perfect 11-0 heading into the final, carried the momentum through the rest of the match, taking the last two sets 25-17, 18-15 to claim the regional Tier 2 title at Sheridan College. "We weren't scared to hit," said Blakelock coach Juris Simsons. "We have enough power hitters that we can keep hit- ting. The best thing is we have Jovan on the right side and usually teams don't have as strong of a hitter on the right side so they're not expecting it." While Stojanovic got his share of sets, teammate Alec Capstick had plenty of options to choose from, with Hugh McLarty, Connor Gour, Marc Montminy and Graham Estey also getting their opportunities. "When they needed a big block, they got it," said King's Christian coach Jason Taekema. "When they needed a big hit, they got it." see King's on p.32