The Durham Lords varsity men’s volleyball team secured its first Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) East Region championship since 2006 on February 11 after beating La Cite Collegiale 3-1.

February 23, 2011

Along with the regional championship crown, the Lords also secured a spot in the OCAA championship, which will take place at Seneca College in North York, Ont. from February 24 to 26.

The Lords currently sit with the best winning percentage of any OCAA team with a win-loss record of 15-2. They also have lost the fewest sets of any team in the league, dropping only 13 sets all season.

“It is a great accomplishment to win the regional title and the boys worked hard for it,” said Andrew Hinchey, head coach of the Durham Lords varsity men’s volleyball team. “Now our focus has shifted to training for next week when we will compete for the provincial title.”

This year’s regional title is the first for the Lords men’s volleyball team since the 2005-2006 season when the squad went a perfect 13-0 in the regular season before capturing the OCAA silver medal at the provincial championships.

The Lords’ first round opponent at the OCAA championship will be decided after the conclusion of the qualifying round of playoffs this week. The team is hoping to improve on its fifth place finish at last year’s provincial championship when it lost the bronze medal to Mohawk College in the semi-finals.

The men’s varsity volleyball team has a long history of success, winning 13 OCAA medals overall, including three gold medals, since the 1983-1984 season.

For more information about the Durham Lords men’s volleyball team, please visit www.durhamlords.com/varsity/mvb.