CCAA: Marier Breaks OCAA All-Time Kill Record

Keith Marier is in hi 4th year in the OCAA is now holds the all time kills and points record

Editors note: Story was provided to Volleyball Source by fourth-year student althlete Ian MacAlpine who plays for the Algonquin Thunder

There’s a new name on top of two of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association men’s volleyball records. That name is Keith Marier, outside hitter for La Cité Collégiale Coyotes.

Marier broke the records for most career kills with his 788th and most career points with his 930th in a 3-0 loss on the road to North Bay’s Canadore Panthers on January 12. It’s his fourth season in the OCAA.

“It feels good to have broken the record for kills and points,” said 21-year old Marier. “It’s a way for me to see that my hard work is paying off.”

Marier grew up in the club volleyball system playing for the Ottawa Mavericks where he won a provincial silver medal in his final year. He played his post-secondary rookie season with the Algonquin Thunder but failed to put up good numbers offensively. After transferring to La Cité to be closer to home, Marier seemed to find his offensive touch. In his first season with the Coyotes, Marier set the single season OCAA record for kills with 346 and points with 404.

“I just found that passion for the game,” said Marier, captain of the Coyotes. “I found a leadership role on my team as well as a more natural position for myself and I just went with it.”

It only took him one kill in 2014 to break the record after tying it back on December 4 of last year against his former Algonquin Thunder team.

“I think the reason I’ve had success with my volleyball career so far is due to my passion for the game, my work ethic, countless hours of practice and honestly a little bit of luck to go with it all,” said Marier.

The Coyotes have failed to qualify for the provincial championships each of the last two years but Marier has been named an East Division all-star in both those seasons. The Coyotes currently hold a 1-10 record but Marier is sitting third in league scoring with 4.8 points per set.

“Keith is a very versatile player,” said La Cité head coach Alain Cyr-Russo. “He brings leadership, talent and heart to the team. He doesn’t play for himself and wants the best for the team.”

Kyle Donnan of Loyalist College held the former records with 787 kills and 929 points. Donnan, however, played five seasons while Marier hasn’t even finished his fourth. With seven games still remaining in La Cité’s regular season schedule, Marier will have ample opportunity to pad his records.

 “We are very thankful and happy to have a player as talented as Keith,” said Cyr-Russo. “We are proud of him and he represents our school very well. Hopefully something like this will bring more talented players to La Cité.”

Marier is set to graduate from his Respiratory Therapy program this Spring and doesn’t plan on coming back to use his fifth and final year of eligibility.

“I think it’s time to let the program grow without me on the court,” said Marier.

While Marier is happy being the holder of four OCAA records, he says he’d trade them all away for a championship in a heartbeat.