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Top-seeded Spartans beat Waterloo at U Sports men's volleyball tournament

TWU advances at U Sports men's volleyball tourney

EDMONTON, B.C. — The top-seeded Trinity Western Spartans shut down the No. 8 Waterloo Warriors 3-0 on Friday in quarter-final action at the U Sports men's volleyball championship.

The defending champion Spartans won by set scores of 25-18, 25-15 and 25-23, and will face the No. 5 McMaster Marauders in Saturday's semifinals.

The second semifinal on Saturday will have the No. 7 Alberta Golden Bears against the No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds.

Ryan Sclater, recently named the U Sports men's volleyball player of the year, led the Spartans with 12 kills. Adam Schriemer, finished with 30 assists and 2.5 blocks, earning player of the game honours.

"It's exciting to get going, for sure," Schriemer said. "You want to get that first game over with, get the tournament going. It's exciting and we’re happy to get a win under our belts and advance. We're looking forward to tomorrow."

Aidan Simone had a team-high seven kills for Waterloo.

McMaster earned its way into the semis with a five-set victory over the No. 4 Laval Rouge et Or. The Marauders took the match 25-16, 25-11, 23-25, 19-25, 17-15.

McMaster's Brandon Koppers had 21 kills and 22 points. His fellow outside Andrew Richards was similarly strong in the win, with 15 kills and four blocks, while newly crowned OUA West player of the year Danny Demyanenko followed close behind with 17 points, including 11 kills and six blocks.

"First off, Laval played outstanding," said McMaster coach Dave Preston. "They're so well prepared. I was very happy with the job we did in the first two sets. I thought we stuck to exactly what we saw on film and did exactly what we wanted to do."

Veteran Laval outside Vicente Parraguirre-Villalobos led his team with 18.5 points, including 18 kills.

Alberta upset the No. 2 Manitoba Bisons in four sets to move on.

Fifth-year players Ryan Nickifor and Taylor Arnett led the Bears with 15 kills each, while Arnett added 3.5 blocks, four digs and three aces as the Golden Bears took the match 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16.

"Our coaches challenged us to lay it out on the line." said Arnett. "This is my last year, and that is exactly what I did. I just wanted to keep playing."

The Thunderbirds downed the No. 6 UNB Varsity Reds in four sets to advance. Irvan Brar led the way with 26 kills as UBC won 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17.

The Canadian Press