KITCHENER, ON - The Redeemer men's volleyball team delivered one of its most resilient performances of the season Friday night, battling past a tough Conestoga Condors squad in a dramatic five-set road victory that kept the Royals firmly in the hunt to host a first-round playoff match.
With playoff positioning on the line, Redeemer came out sharp and confident, edging the Condors 30–28 in a tightly contested opening set. The win set the tone early against a strong Conestoga side in a hostile gym.
The Condors responded with authority in the middle of the match, using steady pressure and clean execution to claim sets two and three by scores of 25–20 and 25–21. Carrying that momentum into the fourth set, Conestoga jumped out to an early lead and appeared poised to close out the match.Â
The Royals, however, refused to back down. Redeemer regrouped and surged late in the fourth, flipping the script with a 25–20 win to force a decisive fifth set.
Conestoga once again struck first in the tiebreaker, racing out to a commanding 7–2 advantage. What followed was a stunning turnaround. Redeemer caught fire, ripping off a dominant 13–5 run to steal the set and complete the comeback. Rookie Jeremiah Zomerman sealed the victory with a massive block at the net, sparking an eruption from the Royals bench and coaching staff.
Zomerman led all Royals with a career-high 19 points, delivering the breakthrough performance the high-flying rookie had been building toward all season.
Carsen Grim anchored the backcourt with 15 digs, while
Simon Bourne added 14 points, including four service aces.
With the win, Redeemer put itself in position to host a first-round playoff match, pending the result of Saturday's Mohawk–Fanshawe contest. A Mohawk loss would secure the Royals a coveted fourth-place finish and playoff hosting duties.
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