Canadore Men’s Volleyball Splits Weekend Series
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, October 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.
Second-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 narrowly dropping it 15–13.
Sunday, October 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.”
Canadore Women’s Volleyball Drops Weekend Matches at Home
The Canadore Panthers Women’s Volleyball team faced a challenging weekend in North Bay, opening with a thrilling five-set loss to Seneca on Saturday before falling to Durham in straight sets on Sunday.
Saturday, Oct. 25 — Seneca 3, Canadore 2 (25-21, 16-25, 25-9, 27-29, 15-10)
The Panthers battled fiercely in their first home contest of the season, forcing a dramatic fifth set after trading blows with Seneca.
Kassidy Dyer led Canadore with 13 kills and 18 points, while Elise Churman contributed 14 kills and 17 points, demonstrating her power at the net. Kira Fahrbach added 8 kills and 10 points, giving the Panthers depth in their offensive attack. Reece Sommerfeld and Emily Coughlan anchored the serve, combining for 35 service attempts and keeping Seneca off-balance.
Despite a valiant comeback from a 2-1 deficit, Canadore narrowly dropped the deciding set 15-10. The team recorded 42 kills and 45 digs, showing resilience and determination.
Sunday, Oct. 26 — Durham 3, Canadore 0 (25-13, 25-8, 25-13)
Canadore struggled against a strong Durham squad in Sunday’s contest, dropping all three sets.
Kassidy Dyer again led the attack with 5 kills, while Elise Churman and Kate McKenzie added 2–5 kills apiece. The Panthers recorded 17 kills and 27 digs as a team but were limited offensively against Durham’s effective blocking and serving.
Coach’s Comments
Head Coach Alice Champion reflected on the weekend:
“Saturday’s match showed the heart of this team. We fought hard and came up just short in a five-set thriller. Sunday was tough against a disciplined Durham team, but we’ll take lessons from both matches and keep building. Our effort and commitment were there — now we need to translate that into more consistent results.”
Panthers Battle Hard but Fall to Fanshawe in High-Scoring Road Contest
The Canadore College Panthers showed plenty of fight on Sunday afternoon but came up short against the Fanshawe Falcons, falling 99–76 in OCAA men’s basketball action at Fanshawe College.
Canadore started strong, using balanced scoring to take a 24–15 lead after the first quarter. However, the host Falcons surged in the second frame, outscoring the Panthers 30–12 to grab momentum heading into halftime. Despite a resilient third-quarter effort from Canadore, Fanshawe’s size and rebounding proved decisive down the stretch.
Leading the way for Canadore was Woodli Cime, who delivered a team-high 16 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 steals in 27 minutes. Jonathan Tshienda added 15 points and 4 rebounds, while Royal Egbonkhan and Kejon White each scored 8 points. White also filled the stat sheet with 3 assists and 3 steals.
Favour Okonkwo and Levi Coombs contributed 7 points apiece, while the bench once again provided a spark — combining for 45 of the team’s 76 points, demonstrating Canadore’s depth early in the season.
Fanshawe was led by Da’Marion Ennis, who scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting, and Josh Lawrence, who recorded a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double. The Falcons controlled the boards with a 57–43 rebounding edge and dominated inside, outscoring Canadore 58–32 in the paint.
Despite the loss, the Panthers showed improvement from their season opener, particularly in their first-quarter execution and bench production.
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