Sure, it would have been nice for the Macdonald-Cartier Panthères senior boys volleyball team to run the table, capping off a 9-0 regular season campaign with a win on Monday at home in the pre-playoff finale.

But let's be honest: the Lasalle Lancers had far more on the line in this head to head battle.

And for as much as Lasalle has been the local powerhouse in the sport for the past decade or so, it was ESMC that entered as favourites, looked strong three sets in but ultimately fell victim to a Lancer comeback as the team that won eight of nine city banners from 2014 to 2022 pulled off a 21-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 17-15 victory.

"They were underdogs (to start the year), compared to last year," noted Lasalle sparkplug Davis MacKinnon after the game. "No one expected them to be this good this year. It was kind of intimidating, for us, but we came in with confidence and played with confidence."

Still, trying to slow down the Panthères' attack that centers around provincial team talent Olivier Tremblay but is also supported nicely by the likes of Jérémy Rhéaume, Dax Winch and Maxim Gilroy (with Hayden Quevillon handling the ball distribution at setter) was proving a tad challenging as Lancers' head coach Dylan Terris addressed his troops heading into the fourth set.

"He told us to play like we are better than them, not to play scared," said MacKinnon. "And we focused on not letting #12, Olivier, to get through - and that helped us win the game."

It's been a time of transition for the Lancers, who finished the season at 6-3 and finished fourth, preparing to host the Champlain Requins (5-4) on Monday at home in quarter-final action.

In fact, head coach Dylan Terris was a member of the perennial OFSAA qualifying crew at Lasalle as recently as 2016, making the move to join the Cambrian Golden Shield for a handful of years before making the jump over to coaching.

"We have more guys who have not played a lot of volleyball before, but our coach Dylan is really helping them develop," said MacKinnon, who joined Lasalle teammate Mackenzie Alisappi as a member of the Northern Chill 17U Overchill boys team last year.

"He (Terris) knows a lot; he was coached by Dale (Beausoleil). Compared to other years, we might not be quite as strong, but I still think we are going to go far."

The remaining quarter-final game on Monday sees the Horizon Aigles (7-2) playing host to the Lockerby Vikings (5-4), with Macdonald-Cartier and the Lo-Ellen Park Knights (both at 8-1) awaiting the two winners.

City finals (2024) are set for Monday, November 11th, with the highest remaining seed hosting both the junior and senior championship encounters (same applies to the Division B Senior Boys teams).