Men's volleyball capture programs' first ever national medal

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: DOUGLAS COLLEGE
The men's volleyball team celebrates as they win the CAA bronze medal for the first time ever in the programs' history.

In the final game of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship, the Falcons defeated the host Douglas College Royals in three straight sets to capture the bronze medal.

This is the first time in Fanshawe’s history that a men’s volleyball team have won a national medal.

“It feels great to be able to bring back a medal from CCAAs,” said men’s volleyball’s head coach Patrick Johnston. “This was the first time a men’s volleyball team [from Fanshawe] has ever been to nationals, so to be able to return from the experience with some hardware is rewarding.”

After a hard fought season with a record of 16-2, it is no shock that the team did so well.

They started off their quest for nationals by winning a gold medal in the Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association (OCAA), which was only the second time in the programs’ history and the first in 46 years.

“It was pretty sweet,” said firstyear setter Sebastian Lethbridge. “Knowing how we started back in the ‘70s when we won the first ever provincials [and having] nothing since then, I think it is pretty sweet that we came all this way and got to the nationals.”

According to Lethbridge, it wasn’t solely the on-court training that made the team as good as they were.

“It is the non-volleyball related stuff, it is just a unity between us all, we are like a family… we always hang out, we are always together, and that strengthens the bond,” Lethbridge said. “We stick together through everything and it really helps; I’d say we are one of the closest teams in the country.

But the skills that the athletes possessed also aided the team to achieve the titles they did.

“This year was definitively the most skilled group we have had at Fanshawe,” Johnston said. “I think that rebuilding a program takes some time and now that we’re in our third year, the ability to retain team systems and tactics has improved and returning players are able to pass that knowledge on to the rookies.”

And according to the assistant coach, Rob Thorpe, who played for the Falcons from 2005 until 2008, the skill level is unheard of for such a young team.

“Talent is the biggest thing, they are just more talented than we were back [when I played], but they are also a good cohesive group, they really mesh well together.”

But with an OCAA gold medal and a CCAA bronze medal under the teams’ belts, there is no slowing down, especially given the fact that Fanshawe is hosting the 2017 CCAA National Championships.

“The guys left New Westminster [CCAA Championships] hungry for more,” Johnston said. “Knowing we’re hosting next year is an extra motivator for the guys, now that they’ve been there and see what it’s all about, they’re excited to return.”