Men’s Volleyball News

Men’s Volleyball

Carabins come out on top in five set thriller with Varsity Blues, earn fifth place

U SPORTS Staff

HAMILTON (U SPORTS) – The Montréal Carabins defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the consolation final to secure a fifth-place finish on the final day of the 2023 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, presented by Mikasa, in Burridge Gymnasium.

Guillaume Bisson and Alexis Tournier combined for 32 kills to lead the Carabins and secure a 3-2 (25-19, 26-28, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15) victory for the Montréal squad.

In a tight first set, the Carabins secured a 25-19 win. The second set saw the teams go back and forth, with the lead never exceeding more than three points. Toronto battled hard and earned a 28-26 Set #2 victory to tie the match at 1-1. The Carabins responded, taking set three 25-23. The Varsity Blues then won set four by an identical scoreline to force a fifth and final set. The two teams once again needed extra points to settle the score, with Montréal taking the final set 17-15, securing the match in the process.

Maxime St-Denis tallied an impressive 48 assists along with nine digs to help clinch fifth place for the Carabins. Evan Falardeau recorded 22 kills to lead the Varsity Blues, who clinched sixth place.

The Carabins entered the weekend as the #6 seed and fell to the Trinity Western Spartans in their quarterfinal matchup. Montréal responded with a 3-2 win in the consolation semifinal on Saturday over the Saskatchewan Huskies before claiming victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues to close out their championship.

Toronto began their tournament on a high, stealing a set from the top-seeded Alberta Golden Bears. The Varsity Blues dropped the Windsor Lancers, a team they faced four times this season, in the consolation semifinal before closing out the weekend with a loss to the Carabins.

Mikasa Players of the Game:

  • Toronto: Evan Falardeau
  • Montréal: Alexis Tournier