Falcon volleyball teams are on a high with a winning streak

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: BOTH TEAM PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
Both Fanshawe Falcons volleyball teams went undefeated in the fall semester and are now on their way to contributing to a record-setting year.

The Fanshawe Falcons are on their way to a record-setting year and both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams are contributing strongly to the success.

Both the men’s and women’s team ended the fall season undefeated with 10 wins to 0 losses. Both teams started the winter semester off strongly defeating Mohawk on Jan. 11. With only a handful of games left in the season, the Falcon volleyball teams are on track to an undefeated 2018/19 season.

Patrick Johnston, head coach of the men’s volleyball team, said that the team accomplished nearly all of the goals that they set in the fall season.

Fanshawe Falcons Mens volleyball team

“Our newcomers have caught up to returning players and we’re building momentum towards a strong second half,” Johnston said. “Our greatest strength is our depth without a doubt.”

Johnston said that the ultimate goal for the second half of the season is to win the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) gold medals.

“This season we have the deepest squad we have had in my six years of coaching at Fanshawe,” Johnston said. “Sebastian Lethbridge, David Gundrum and Zach Albert have taken the lead in a number of areas that have led to our success but I could list another seven to eight players that play a big role in big matches.”

Johnston said he is looking forward to the rest of the season and hopes to add more banners to the walls of the Fanshawe gym.

Sean Pellow, head coach of the women’s volleyball team, shares a similar goal to Johnston in that he hopes to win the OCAA championship and represent Ontario at the CCAA championships in March.

“Fall season was interesting for us, we have a lot of new faces and a very different makeup than we have had in the past,” Pellow said. “The fall regular season was a success on a number of levels for us, establishing our identity took some time, creating our team values and goals and finding a way to live those things took the entire semester.”

Pellow said that the team is comprised of players that have more experience than before and many of the athletes have achieved success in the past.

“Our program believes firmly in roles within a team, every player plays a key role in our success,” Pellow said. “From our top scorers to our red shirt players who are helping us to get better in practice, every player is notable in their role.”

Pellow said that in his history of coaching it is rare to see a team that enjoys being around each other all the time and he has that with this team.

“I think our greatest strength is our resilience, this group doesn’t panic when things aren’t going well, they band together to figure out what needs fixed and they fix it,” Pellow said. “They have an understanding and respect for their opponents and that don’t pass blame on one another when our opponent does something good, they just prepare for the next play.”

The women’s volleyball OCAA championship will be taking place Feb. 22 to 24 hosted by Cambrian College and the men’s volleyball OCAA championship runs Feb. 21 to 23 hosted by Humber College.