Shank's Ontario Squad Takes Silver at Canada Games

Mastodon sophomore represents home province at 2009 Games

Fort Wayne, IN -Mastodon outside hitter Darryl Shank traded in the Royal and White in favor of his home province, as he spent his Summer helping lead Team Ontario to a second place finish at the 2009 Canada Games.

The sophomore saw action in all seven matches for the Ontarians, held in the province of Prince Edward Island. Team Ontario went undefeated in Pool B action, downing opponents by a combined score of 15-2 in five matches.

In the tournament's semifinals, Shank and his Ontario teammates took down Manitoba 25-16, 25-12 and 25-13, setting up a gold medal match-up with Alberta, the other undefeated team of the Games. 

Although Team Ontario hung tough in the finals, sending two of three sets to extra points, Team Alberta was too much, as they took Gold (26-24, 25-28, 29-27).

The second place finish is the province's best since the 1993 team took Gold and is the first Silver since 1971. The London, Ontario native's most impressive performances came in wins over Nova Scotia (3-0) and Quebec (3-1). Shank tallied four kills and three digs against Nova Scotia and six kills and a pair of digs in the Quebec match.

The Canada Games is a biannual sporting event, with a Winter-Summer schedule similar to that of the Olympics, first held in 1966. Twenty sporting events are currently sponsored by the Games, including everything from canoeing and kayaking to women's wrestling. The Canadian Special Olympics national event is held during the two-week festival as well.

Shank has rejoined his Volleydon teammates in preparation for the 2010 season and their rigorous MIVA schedule. The `Dons will begin the 2010 campaign January 8 as they host NJIT for a 7 p.m. match-up at the Gates Sports Center.

~Dons~