Women's Volleyball
Mohawk captured the Killer Instinct Cup women's volleyball tournament at Durham College in Oshawa Jnuary 5, downing Fanshawe Falcons of London 2-0 in the best of three final.
The Mountaineers swept all five of their round robin matches, knocking off Cambrian, Fanshawe and Loyalist Friday, then completing the preliminary matches Saturday, defeating Niagara 25-17, 25-20 and Seneca, 25-12, 25-17.
They lost their only game of the tourney to open their semi final with Nipissing of North Bay. The Lakers raced out to a 9-0 lead and eventually won the first set 20-25. But the Mountaineers bounced back smartly, 26-24 and 19-17, in what would have been a worthy Gold Medal contest, but ended up serving as a good warm up for the championship, as Mohawk beat Fanshawe 25-13, 25-19.
Mountaineers' Leah Waxman was the tournament MVP, while teammates Kellie Crnic and Janette Jakubiec were named All-Stars.
Mohawk's regular season picks up Tuesday January 15 at Sheridan. The Mountaineers will be home to St. Clair Saturday, January 19.
Mohawk is a perfect 6-0 in the OCAA Central West Region and took the number one ranking in the province prior to the holiday break.
Men's Volleyball
Mohawk was eliminated in the Limoilou invitational men's volleyball tournament in Quebec City. The Mountaineers dropped a five set decision to their hosts in playoff action January 5.
After winning a pair of pool matches against St. Thomas University of Fredericton and St. Jerome Quebec on Friday, Mohawk lost 3-1 to Beauce-Appalaches of Ville Saint-Georges Quebec in their final preliminary match Saturday afternoon. Then against the Limoilou Titans, they had an opportunity to advance, but lost 17-15 in the decisive fifth set.
Mountaineers' head coach James Bradley said mistakes have been a problem this season and the team made several of them in this match and coming off the Christmas break there has not been a lot of time to practice. However, Bradley felt his top ranked OCAA squad turned the corner in its play in that final game, despite the defeat.
The Mountaineers now will prepare to resume OCAA Central West Region action Tuesday January 15 at Sheridan, before returning to the Fennell Gym Saturday January 19, when St. Clair checks in. Mohawk will enter the new semester with a 5-0 record in their league.
Men's Basketball
Mohawk finished 1-1 in two very competitive games in the 30th annual George Brown Men's Basketball Tournament in Toronto January 4-5.
Friday the Mountaineers topped St. Clair Saints of Windsor 86-80. Jerome Smith scored 19 points to lead the winners. Marko Gacic had 13, while Alen Beader and Tyrone Berry scored 11 apiece and Mackenzie Milmine chipped in with 10.
Saturday the host George Brown Huskies squeezed past Mohawk 80-78. Gacic had 18 points, Berry collected 15 and Milmine, 14.
The Mountaineers, 5-4 in the OCAA West Region, resume league play at Fanshawe in London Wednesday January 16. On Friday January 18, they will host St. Clair. Mohawk has six home games in the second semester and will be bidding to make a run to the post season.