Athletics - Redeemer University College

ROYALS WIN PROVINCIAL BRONZE MEDAL

What a difference 12 hours can make. When it looked like the Royals medal hopes were fading after a tough loss to the Seneca Sting Friday night most people wouldn't have picked the Royals to still come out with an OCAA provincial medal. But, the fans believed, the coaching staff believed, and most importantly the Redeemer Royals believed that they belonged in the bronze medal game and deserved a medal.

With a boisterous crowd of over 750 fans backing their team, the Redeemer Royals won their first OCAA medal in Men's Volleyball history.

It was a historic end to the career's of the 4th year veterans Ryan Talsma, Brad Douwes, and Reuben Wilms.

Redeemer Royals will Play for Bronze!!

Game time 3:00pm

Royals Drop Match to Seneca. Next up....Nipissing Lakers in Bronze Semi-Final

Royals Dominate on Day 1

(Photo by Nathan Giancola)

In front of a sold out gym, 3200 viewers online, and countless more on Cable 14 television, the men's volleyball team took one giant leap towards a gold medal yesterday when they won their opening game on Day 1. The Royals came out dominant against their first round opponent the Fanshawe Falcons and backed by the boisterous Redeemer faithful, opened the tournament with a 3-0 win. The game scores were 26-24, 25-16, 29-27.

For the Royals, recently named OCAA Player of the Year Ryan Talsma powered the offense with 13 points on 10 kills. 1st team all-star Brad Douwes also had a monster game for the men with 15 points on 9 kills, 1 ace, and 5 blocks.

The Royals now turn their attention to the powerful Seneca Sting. The Sting won their first match on Day 1 by beating the Mohawk Mountaineers. The Royals and Sting square off at 6:00pm with the winner advancing to the Gold Medal match.

BREAKING NEWS!!

RYAN TALSMA NAMED OCAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

It was a fitting end to a storied career for Redeemer University College’s Ryan Talsma who was honoured as the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association’s Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year at the championship breakfast banquet in Ancaster.

The Orono, Ontario native, finished the 2009-10 season ranking in the top three in four of the six West Region statistical categories including finishing second in total kills, service aces, total points and points per game average. He also ranked eighth in digs. A fourth year veteran, Talsma rewrote the OCAA’s record books this season becoming the All-time leader for kills in a career with 719 and total career points with 907. He also sits fifth in career aces with 103.

"Ryan Talsma is a humble leader that never gets bigger than the game,” said the Redeemer coaching staff. “He is the consummate teammate who works hard building relationships with his team mates that transcend the game. His leadership, natural gifts and his work ethic have made him one of the most feared players in the OCAA and across the country.”

Ryan was also honoured with his third consecutive CCAA All-Canadian Nomination and will be heading to Grant McEwan in Edmonton, Alberta to receive the honour at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association’s Men’s Volleyball Championship banquet. He will be joined by Humber College’s Terrel Bramwell.

Bramwell took the OCAA by storm this season as one of the most electrifying hitters to grace the OCAA courts. The first year player was honoured as the OCAA’s Men’s Rookie of the Year, League and Regional scoring champion and as a CCAA All-Canadian.

"Terrel may be the most explosive rookie in the history of the OCAA,” commented Humber Head Coach Wayne Wilkins. “He has rocketed himself to be one of the best players in the province. He came to Humber from the heavily touted and nationally recognized Pakmen Volleyball Club. His athleticism is something to behold, as he jumps higher and hits harder than most. He adds a jump serve to his game that consistently draws aces.”

The Redeemer men’s program was not finished collecting the hardware as Wayne Harris was named the OCAA’s Men’s Coach of the Year and will be in the final mix as the CCAA National Coach of the Year award of excellence to be named in Edmonton.

Harris, and his assistant coach Nathan Siebenga, led their team to a 13-3 record in the West Region, falling just short of the division title that came down to a one match showdown. The Royals have been ranked as high as fourth nationally this season and have continued to develop and retain some of the country’s best players.

For a complete list of award winners, see below.

OCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year
Ryan Talsma (Redeemer)

OCAA Men’s Rookie of the Year
Terrel Bramwell (Humber)

CCAA Men’s All-Canadians
Ryan Talsma (Redeemer)
Terrel Bramwell (Humber)

CCAA Men’s Coach of the Year Nominee
Wayne Harris (Redeemer)

Men’s Regional Scoring Champions
East - Kyle Donnan – Loyalist– 4.65 PPG
West – Terrel Bramwell – Humber – 5.90 PPG

Men’s Regional Winners
West - Humber
East - Seneca

Men’s East Rookie of the Year
T.J. Rodin (Trent)

Men’s West Rookie of the Year
Terrel Bramwell (Humber)

Men’s East Coach of the Year
Shane Timms (Seneca)

Men’s West Coach of the Year
Wayne Harris (Redeemer)

Men’s East Region 1st Team All-Stars
Kyle Donnan (Loyalist)
Jason Hernanadez (Seneca)
Brian Archibald (Seneca)
Greg Gillespie (Loyalist)
Evan Minshall (Seneca)
Costa Solanakis (Algonquin)
Joshua Neadow (Trent)

Men’s West Region 1st Team All-Stars
Kevin Krajcik (Niagara)
Terrel Bramwell (Humber)
Ryan Talsma (Redeemer)
Adam Leblanc (Nipissing)
Brad Douwes (Redeemer)
David Keo (Nipissing)
Jordan McTavish (Fanshawe)

Men’s East Region 2nd Team All-Stars
Alexandre Corsi Caya (Algonquin)
James Mayer (Durham)
Mike Rodin (Fleming P)
Branko Dundjerovic (Algonquin)
T.J. Rodin (Trent)
Jeff Torraville (Durham)
Kyle McCann (Seneca)

Men’s West Region 2nd Team All-Stars
Ian Cameron (Mohawk)
Andre Leblanc (Nipissing)
Andrew Henry (Sheridan)
Mitchell Sawatsky (Mohawk)
Corey Cole (St. Clair)
Aaron Tolkamp (Redeemer)
Steven Cheung (Humber)

Royals Win Provincial Bronze Medal

With a boisterous crowd of over 750 fans backing their team, the Redeemer Royals won their first OCAA medal in Men's Volleyball history at the championships that took place February 25 - 27. This was not only the first year that Redeemer received a medal in the tournament, but also the first year that Redeemer had the opportunity to host the event.

When it looked like the Royals medal hopes were fading after a tough loss to the Seneca Sting Friday night, most people wouldn't have picked the Royals to still come out with an OCAA provincial medal. But, the fans believed, the coaching staff believed, and most importantly the Redeemer Royals believed that they belonged in the bronze medal game and deserved a medal.

Redeemer qualified for the bronze-medal game with 3-2 win over the Nipissing Lakers, despite the fact that Redeemer had lost twice previously to Nipissing this season. It was a historic end to the career's of the 4th year veterans Ryan Talsma, Brad Douwes, and Reuben Wilms.

Dave Mantel, Athletic Director, is proud of the team's accomplisment, "The Men's Volleyball team played under immense pressure all year, much of that pressure applied by themselves, but additionally due to the knowledge that we were hosting. Not only did they make the tournament, but they wrote themselves into Redeemer athletic history as part of the medal winning tradition of the Royals."