Gaels Men’s Volleyball Advance to OUA Finals Defeating Mustangs 3-2

(28/02/25) – Kingston, ON. Queen’s Men’s Volleyball advance to the OUA Finals against the Windsor Lancers after defeating the Western Mustangs in the Gaels-hosted semi-finals after five exciting sets (25-23, 22-25, 25-15, 15-10).

No. 7 Zig Licis (Computer Engineering) tallied-up 23 sniper-shot kills, followed by no. 17 Reed Venning (Arts & Sciences) with 13. These two players have been key in the Gaels ride to the finals leading in points as well in the quarters against the Guelph Gryphons. Licis also carried in aces with six on the match. The Mustangs, noted by Head Coach Gabe deGroot, are not a “heavy serving team”, so Licis’s serves added to the Gaels’s advance over their opponents. 

The Gaels were first to strike the scoreboard but the score stayed tight throughout the rest of the set. The Gaels fell six points below 11-5 but a swift kill by no. 8 Nikola Mitrovic (Economics) from behind no. 18 Dax Tompkins (Arts) produced a momentum which carried the Gaels to win the set 25-23. 

deGroot commented post-game that the losses seen in the second and fourth set were a product of receiving struggles, which the Gaels tightened up by “taking care of and tracking the ball when it mattered most” . The second set was a tad shaky of a performance for the Gaels, falling 14-6.  Service errors were the downfall of the Gaels play against the Mustangs with 24 missed to the Mustangs 14 missed, and this error was especially heightened in the second. The second set closed with 22-25 in favour of the Mustangs.  The Gaels led in blocks and kills but was not enough to win another. 

The Gaels bench notoriously produces a roar of energy for their teammates on the court and this energy assembled in the third to help the Gaels win 10 points over the Mustangs, 25-15. An electric block by Tompkins, one of three for him and 43 for the team on the evening contributed to the Gaels strong performance. 

The fourth set was a back and forth battle between the two opponents where it could have been anyone’s set-victory. Struggles previously seen in the second set crept back in for the Gaels, although the boys stayed aligned with the Mustangs points with the set ending in extra points 27-25. At this point, the Gaels had capitalized on 49 kills, 20 of which Licis scored. 

With the sets tied 2-2, deGroot remarked “This group has a ton of fun together and when we went in our huddle before that last set, it was like hey let’s enjoy this. It’s not often you get to play in front of a packed house of family, friends, and classmates. I think they ultimately just took that in and took advantage of the situation.” 

Libero no. 3 Toby Jeffries (Engineering) delivered with 18 digs that kept the Gaels in the game until the end. In the Gaels last match-up against the Mustangs, no. 14 Carter Sedgewick (Arts/Commerce) filled the role of libero and the Gaels were victorious. With Jeffries set as lib for the evening, deGroot established this decision as “He’s been going on a streak here. He’s been receiving amazing.” Both players have strengths that add to different sides of the game, “but the way Toby’s been receiving he deserves to be on the floor.” He further explains “He’s a veteran guy, he’s got the experience now, and he’s done a great job at solidifying the reception faze of the game.”

With a total of 57 kills, 8 service aces, and 30 blocks, the Gaels defeated the Mustangs 15-10 in the final set and sang their victory song of Sweet Caroline, punching their card to the OUA Finals. 

The OUA Finals will be hosted by the Windsor Lancers on Friday, March 7th at 7:00 PM. Be sure to catch the game on OUA.TV! Go Gaels Go!