By: Sarah Maat

 SCARBOROUGH, Ont. — The Centennial Colts upset the fourth-ranked Durham Lords with a three-set (25-22, 25-15, 26-24) sweep on Sunday. A terrific turnaround after losing two games on the road last week.

 Before the game, Head Coach Andrew Mallory adjusted the starting lineup, moving rookie Ava Hamilton from Libero to Outside Hitter.  He also placed OCAA leading hitters CL Viloria and Jaque Ronquillo on either side of their setter to offset the Lord's blocking prowess.

These changes kept Durham's defence at bay and highlighted Centennial's main strength—power.

Throughout the match, Viloria and Ronquillo landed powerful hits, pummelling their defence. Power is a double-edged sword, as the Colts sacrificed accuracy, leading to some missed opportunities and allowing the Lords to stay within striking distance.

The first set remained close throughout, with Durham mounting a comeback late in the match to go up 23-20. Centennial responded with a strategic timeout to centre the team and secure the set.

"There were a couple [of] times where we probably lost a few points because they weren't as comfortable in those positions but overall, they did a really good job buying into the game plan and executing on what we wanted to do," Mallory said in a post-game interview.

Veterans Viloria and Ronquillo set the tempo in the second set as they continued their barrage of powerful attacks. The usually crisp and dominant Durham defence crumbled under the Colts' strength. Centennial pulled away, winning set 2, 25-14.

In the third set, both teams kept it close, trading points and making few mistakes. The Lords did a better job of contending with the Colts' as they delivered countless power shots. Down 24-22 and facing match point, the Lords battled tough to tie it at 24. A thunderous Kill by Kaiyra De La Ronde put the Colts up 25-24, and the Colts would seal the win on the next point.

"This is a game that if we go by standings we weren't supposed to win, but we did a good job of executing and taking it. We know we can beat anybody, but there is a lot of parity this year […] so you got to make sure you are playing at your best," Mallory said.

After today's win, the Colts have improved their record to eight wins and six losses and ended their losing streak. The Colts' next game is January 24, when they challenge the top-seeded Seneca Sting.