The St. Clair Women's Volleyball team is heading home with silver medals after a hard-fought loss in the OCAA Championship game on Saturday night in Etobicoke.
The Saints fell to the host Humber Hawks by a score of 3-1 at the Championship tournament.
"We wanted the gold, but we knew, regardless, we were walking away with a gold or silver, which is a very comforting thing," said Julie Ann Milling, the head coach of the Saints Women's Volleyball team. "To end on that note, that's such a good memory for them."
With the win, the Hawks have qualified for the CCAA National Championship in Oshawa from March 5 to 8.
Set scores for Humber were 25-18, 22-25, 25-15 and 25-16.
It was only the fourth time in history the Saints have played for an OCAA gold medal. The last time was nearly three decades ago, when the Saints won gold in 1997. This is also the first time the women's squad has medaled provincially since 2020.
"They made history. So that's something they'll always remember," Milling said.
Arianna Karl (Windsor; Holy Names) was named the Player of the Game for the Saints with nine kills, a .320 kill percentage along with two service aces and 11 digs.
Karl and Haleigh Kearns (Prince George, BC; DP Todd Secondary) were also named Championship All Stars.
The Humber women are ranked first in Ontario and third in Canada. The Saints went into the championship match ranked second in Ontario and eleventh in Canada.
"That's our rival. And that definitely fuels my fire the most. You go back and look at what you could have done differently, as a coach, for next year," said Milling, who noted the squad will lose seven players this offseason.
But Milling said the team is mentally tough, they're now game-tested at the provincial level, and are hungry for more.
"We want to be back there next year," Milling said. "My goal is to create the start of a dynasty. I think that's what St. Clair deserves."
Men's Volleyball 'Cinderella' playoff push ends with fourth-place finish
The upset playoff run came to an end for the St. Clair College Men's Varsity Volleyball team on Sunday afternoon in Sudbury.
The Saints fell to the Fanshawe Falcons 3-1 in the bronze medal match at the OCAA Championship being hosted by Cambrian College.
Set scores for Fanshawe were 26-24, 23-25, 25-13, and 25-16.
Outside hitter Arthur Richard (Woodstock; Woodstock Collegiate) was named the Player of the Game for St. Clair as he led the Saints offensively with 13 kills and two stuff blocks.
Outside hitter Kale Wilkinson (Windsor; Riverside) was named a Championship All-Star.
The Saints (eighth place West) had previously upset the first-place East Georgian Grizzlies and fourth-ranked West Conestoga Condors in the playoffs to earn their way to the Championship Tournament. St. Clair was hoping to bring home their second medal in team history.
Despite not claiming a provincial medal, the future is bright for the men's team with the 14 of 16 players set to return next season.