Tommies Drop Lords 3-1 To Advance to Bronze Semifinal

The St. Thomas Tommies kept their medal hopes alive with a 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22) victory over the Durham Lords. 

It is just the third time an ACAA team won a match at Nationals. In 2015, the Tommies defeated the eventual bronze medalists from Niagara College. 

Adam McDougall paced the Tommies in the first set with four kills to lead his team.

The Tommies lost steam in the second set with the Lords coming back strong. Lords outside hitter Rouzbeh Rahnavard turned in a strong performance as well, with fifth-year setter Liam Gray stuffing some monster blocks at the net. 

"Everyone had some great plays, both defensively and offensively, and I think it came down to who executed the little things a little bit better," said McDougall after the match. "Everybody here is the highest of caliber so you have to fight every game to win."

Both teams entered the third set fighting for the win, with eight score ties in this set. Christian Christie, the CCAA All-Canadian from St. Thomas, gave several major kills in this set and ended it with a service ace. 

The fourth and final set was unlike no other with Tommies' Christie and McDougall combining for nine kills as the Tommies took the game 3-1. 

Players of the Game were Rahnavard of the Lords and McDougall for the Tommies. 

The game was once again played without a crowd, which had Tommies' head coach Henri Mallet thankful they were playing the matches. 

"We are lucky to be here, and we are trying to take full advantage of it, and I think we have been pretty successful on that end."