Canadore Men’s Volleyball Splits Weekend Series at Home

North Bay, ON — The Canadore Panthers Men's Volleyball team showed grit and growth in their opening weekend of OCAA regular-season play, falling in a five-set thriller to Seneca on Saturday before bouncing back in dominant fashion with a straight-sets victory over Durham on Sunday at the Canadore Gymnasium.

Saturday, Oct. 25 — Seneca 3, Canadore 2 (13-25, 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 13-15)

In their season opener, the Panthers battled wire-to-wire in a marathon five-set match that showcased both offensive power and defensive resilience.

First-year outside hitter Mason Begg led Canadore's attack with 17 kills and 20 total points, while Sean Malherbe added 16 kills and three aces for another 20-point performance. Konrad Siedlec chipped in with 8 kills and 3 blocks, hitting an impressive .538. Setter Spencer Corston orchestrated the offense with 46 assists and added 7 digs.

Despite the loss, Canadore displayed balance across the floor, hitting .262 as a team and earning nine total blocks. The Panthers fought back from a 2–1 deficit to force a deciding fifth set before dropping it 15–13.

Sunday, Oct. 26 — Canadore 3, Durham 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22)

Canadore returned to the court Sunday with renewed focus, sweeping the Durham Lords in straight sets to even their early-season record.

Once again, Begg and Malherbe powered the attack, tallying 7 kills apiece, while Hallen Ettles contributed 7 kills, 2 service aces, and a team-high 6 blocks for 15 points. Siedlec remained steady with 6 kills and 3 blocks, and Kahled Bryant was nearly unstoppable, hitting .833 with 5 kills on 6 attempts.

Corston continued his stellar weekend, posting 30 assists and 6 digs, guiding Canadore to a .293 team hitting percentage. The Panthers also controlled the net with 17 team blocks and aggressive serving that kept Durham out of rhythm.

Coach's Comments

Head Coach Mark Hopper praised the team's resilience:

"Saturday's loss was tough, but the guys responded perfectly on Sunday," said Coach. "Our serving and blocking were the difference against Durham. If we keep that intensity, we'll be a tough team to play against all year."