Falcons Volleyball dominates "Bell Let's Talk" matches

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It was a win-win for the Fanshawe Falcons men's and women's volleyball teams during their Bell Let's Talk double-header on Jan. 22, where they squared off with the Redeemer Royals.

On Jan. 22, Fanshawe’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams squared off against the Redeemer Royals as part of Bell Let’s Talk.

Bell Let’s Talk is an event to get people to feel comfortable talking about mental health. Both games were dedicated to mental health awareness. Players and staff were wearing Bell Let’s Talk toques and fans who were at the game received thunder sticks and information materials about mental health.

The women’s team (12-0) three set sweep over the Royals propelled the squads ranking to fourth in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Fanshawe started out strong with rookie freshman middle, Skylar Johnston (nursing) leading the team to a first set 25-14 win.

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“[Johnston] has been incredible, she really hasn’t played volleyball her entire life, and she’s humble about it,” said head coach Jeff Millar. “She really has improved as the season has been happening.”

Fanshawe’s top performer in this contest was Janelle Albert (business – marketing), who scored 18 points, moving her into seventh place in the Falcons women’s alltime point leaders with 456 in less than two seasons.

“She’s the best women’s volleyball player in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association [OCAA] and could possibly be the best Falcon volleyball player ever. Her work level has been tremendous, and she’s done everything right for us, that’s why you see us with an undefeated record so far, and she has made a big impact in the Falcon volleyball program.”

The men’s volleyball team (6- 6) played later that night, upsetting the Royals (8-5) by winning the match 3-1. Fanshawe won the first set with fifth year star Mike Liscumb (general arts and science) opening the scoring and getting the team off on the right foot in a 25-18 win. In the second set, the Falcons kept it close, but Redeemer came back late in the set to win 25-22.

In the third set, both teams kept trading points, but a big block by Mitch McFadden (electrical techniques) turned the momentum back to the Falcons, as they won the third set 25-19. In the fourth set, the momentum kept going for the Falcons and McFadden was able to score the game winning point, winning the fourth set 25-19. Liscumb came away with 10 points on the night, becoming rising to fifth on the Falcons men’s all-time points list with 396. He also is currently third in all time blocks with 93.

Both Falcons teams are now looking at the playoffs, as the regular season ends in mid-February.

Both teams play on Feb. 1, against the Niagara Knights at Fanshawe. The Women’s game will start at 1 p.m. Right after the women’s game, the men’s team will play at 3 p.m.