WINDSOR, Ont. - The Humber Hawks faced the Durham Lords in an exciting battle for the gold medal in the final game of the OCAA Woman's Volleyball Championship presented by belairdirect in the SportsPlex at St. Clair College on Sunday.
OCAA Gold Medal Match - Humber 3, Durham 0
Humber came out hungry in the first set, playing a hard offensive game. Durham stayed close behind but couldn't find the win in the first, with Humber taking it 25-20 after a late push by the Lords. An energetic Humber team continued to roll through the second set dominating 25-12. The third set saw a different Durham team, taking an early lead over the Hawks but Humber quickly tied it up. After some back and forth action Humber pulled away and took home the gold medals with a 25-18 final score.
Devan O'Connor was named Player of the Game for Humber. She led the Hawks with 14 kills and two service aces. Breanna Golding was second on the team with 12 kills, one service ace and three stuff blocks. Libero Kyla Wilkens played some amazing defence with 20 digs.
Durham's Allison Marshall lead the team with 12 kills and one stuff block followed by Shannon Dean with nine kills, two service aces and two stuff blocks. Megan Romain had 24 assists, one ace and 14 digs earning Player of the Game for the Lords.
The Humber Hawks have now won 10 consecutive OCAA women's volleyball championship. The Hawks will now be competing in the CCAA national championship being hosted by Camosun College in Victoria from March 8-12.
After the event the Championship All-Stars and MVP were announced.
Championship All-Stars
Jordan Koslowski - Outside Hitter - Niagara College
Allison Marshall - Outside Hitter - Durham College
Shannon Dean - Middle - Durham College
Kyla Wilkins - Libero - Humber College
Devan O'Connor - Outside Hitter - Humber College
Championship MVP
Gabie Miletic - Setter - Humber College
OCAA Bronze Medal Match - Niagara 3, St. Clair 2
The Niagara Knights battled it out for the bronze medal in the OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship presented by belairdirect against the St Clair Saints Sunday afternoon at the SportsPlex in front of another packed house in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
A close start in the first set saw Niagara as the victors with a score of 25-22 as the Saints were leading late but gave up five straight points. In the second set, Niagara came out strong on offence and took an early lead, but St. Clair answered with a hard-fought comeback at the half way point. Ultimately, Niagara took the second set 25-19.
The battle continued into the third set with St. Clair trailing and again finding a way to come back and take it 25-22. St Clair took the fourth set 25-23 to force a fifth and deciding set. The fifth and final set was an energetic, close game but Niagara claimed the bronze medal with 15-12 win.
Niagara's Rachel Rivers led them to victory with 16 total kills on 48 attacks and 15 digs. The Player of the Game for the Knights was setter Bailey Davis. Davis distributed the ball well with 33 assists, three kills, two service aces and nine digs.
Kaila Crough had a big match for St. Clair with 15 total kills on 39 attacks. Libero Julie Ann Milling was named Player of the Game for the Saints with a great defensive game with 20 digs.
Niagara ended the regular season with a record of 15-3 and ranked third in the OCAA while the Saints were 12-6 and ranked sixth.
Consolation Final - Fanshawe 3, Algonquin 0
The Algonquin Thunder faced off against the Fanshawe Falcons Sunday afternoon for the consolation final of the OCAA Woman's Volleyball Championship presented by belairdirect at the St. Clair College SportsPlex on Sunday.
Fanshawe took the first set handily 25-13. The two teams battled back and forth in the beginning, but Algonquin's defence fell to the strong offence of Fanshawe mid-way through the set.
The second set Fanshawe dominated throughout and ended in a score of 25-19. The third set saw a stronger Algonquin team, coming out with the early lead and a strong attempt at a comeback back but ultimately, they couldn't hold on falling 25-20.
Meghan Morelli lead Fanshawe with a total of 10 kills, one ace and two stuff blocks. Also chipping in from Fanshawe was Allysha Couch with seven kills, three serving aces and nine digs. Madeline Shantz was strong throughout with a team-leading 26 assists.
Algonquin's Serah Rounds-Zavitz had five kills and five digs earning her Player of the Game. Julianna Johnson also had five kills and a service ace.
Fanshawe ends up in fifth place as the OCAA consolation champions.
Championship Webcast: www.youtube.com/user/WindsorEssexTV
Championship Schedule
Friday, February 24
Quarter-Finals
Game 1: Durham 3, Fanshawe 0
Game 2: Niagara 3, Cambrian 1
Game 3: Humber 3, Loyalist 1
Game 4: St. Clair 3, Algonquin 2
Saturday, February 25
Consolation Round
Game 5: Fanshawe 3, Cambrian 2
Game 6: Algonquin 3, Loyalist 1
Semi-Finals
Game 7: Durham 3, Niagara 1
Game 8: Humber 3, St. Clair 0
Sunday, February 26
Consolation Final
Game 9: Fanshawe 3, Algonquin 0
Bronze Medal Match
Game 10: Niagara 3, St. Clair 2
Gold Medal Match
Game 11: Humber 3, Durham 0
Source: St. Clair College