The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

36 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 16, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OT volleyball grads making impact on CIS scene By Herb Garbutt READY, SET: Chris Dunlop (3), pictured setting the ball during a Dalhousie University Tigers' game this season, was one of four Oakville Trafalgar High School grads to participate in the CIS men's volleyball championships earlier this month in Hamilton. Dunlop and Chris Murray helped Dalhousie to the consolation title. Devon Miller and Dave Muddiman suited up for Queen's, which lost its first two matches and was eliminated. PHOTO BY NICK PEARCE/ COURTESY OF DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY team any respect. "I got the impression everyone thought last year was a fluke," Miller said. "At the Five years after the Oakville Trafalgar Red beginning of the year, everyone counted us Devils won the provincial high school boys' out so we played with a chip on our shoulvolleyball title, the team is continuing to der all year." make an impact on the sport. After coming from behind to defeat Earlier this month in Hamilton, three McMaster in the OUA finals, there were members of that team were vying for a higher hopes for Queen's at the CIS tournaCanadian university championship. Devon ment, but the Gaels bowed out in two Miller of the Queen's Golden Gaels and Dan straight, losing to British Columbia and Murray and Chris Dunlop of the Laval. "A good set just Dalhousie Tigers, who won the "It was pretty disappointing," consolation championship, doesn't seem Miller said. "We wanted to make staged a mini reuinion at the that hard. But some noise." Canadian Interuniversity Sport people who Miller said the team focused so (CIS) tournament. They were know the game hard on winning OUAs, it may joined by another OT grad, Dave have let down its guard at the appreciate what Muddiman, a rookie on the national tournament. a setter does." Golden Gaels. Now, confident in its ability to Miller had an outstanding seawin at the provincial level, the son, leading Queen's to its sec- Devon Miller team's focus will be improving its ond consecutive Ontario finish nationally. University Association (OUA) title. The Murray and Dunlop were also looking for fourth-year setter was named a first-team a better finish at the CIS tournament but all-Canadian and earned OUA most valuable drew a tough first-round match against player honours. Alberta. "It was very surprising but I'm honThey would win their next two, including oured," Miller said of the award. "I've tried a 25-21, 25-19, 25-13 victory over Laval in to keep working hard but it's really a testa- the consolation final that allowed Dunlop to ment to our team." finish his university career on a winning Though it's the setter's teammates that note. score the majority of the points and thereThe duo helped Dalhousie finish 18-1 as fore draw the attention of the casual fan, it it won its 18th consecutive Atlantic is the setter that makes it all possible and is University Sport (AUS) title. Murray earned the key to a team's offence -- reading the first-team AUS honours, finishing third in opposition's defence and deciding where to the conference in kills per game (3.16). His direct the attack. powerful strikes were on display in the Nobody did that better than Miller this Tigers' final game as he led Dalhousie in year. He easily led the country with 848 both points (16) and kills (14). assists, 112 more than his closest rival, his "He's probably one of the hardest hitting former Bronte Beach teammate Brock Pehar guys I've seen, of Alberta. ever," said "If you don't watch a Dalhousie assistant lot of volleyball, you're coach Eugene Tan. going to be more "He certainly impressed by the big hit brings a lot of or the big block. A good intensity. He's set just doesn't seem ready to play every that hard," Miller said. game and that's "But people who know infectious." the game appreciate Though Dunlop what a setter does." played a backup Miller also proved to role to starting setDan Murray be among the best ter Scott Townsend, servers in the country, he was often the first player off the bench finishing tied for 11th in due to his strong defence and service game. service aces, and a solid Despite not being a starter, Dunlop still findefensive player, averag- ished sixth in the conference in service aces ing 1.26 digs per game per game. (fifth among setters). "It's nice to know (the coach has) the With some nice indi- confidence in me to put me in in that kind vidual honours on his of situation. It is a little nerve-wracking but resumé -- including two you take every chance you can to go in there first-team OUA selec- and make a difference," Dunlop said. tions -- Miller would "He's probably one of the best athletes on like to cap his final sea- our team," said Tony Finch, a former teamson by helping Queen's mate and now assistant coach with the attain some team goals. Tigers. Last year at the CIS "Chris is one of the most competitive championships, Queen's people in practice. (Dunlop and Townsend) posted its best-ever fin- are invariably on opposite sides of the net. ish by winning the con- He always pushes Scottie. He never gives solation championship. Scottie a day off." That came on the heels Murray, who played a year at Waterloo of an upset of the heavi- before transferring to Dalhousie, will be ly-favoured Ryerson back to help the Tigers extend a run that has Rams in the OUA cham- seen them win every AUS title since 1987. pionship. Still, that win His role will be even more important on a did little to gain the team that will lose at least three starters. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF