BELLEVILLE, Ont. - Recaps of Friday's OCAA women's volleyball championship matches played at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ont.

Sheridan Bruins defeat Trent Excalibur 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 16-14)
Sheridan advances to OCAA Bronze Semifinal

It was an exciting start to Day 2 at the OCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship at Loyalist College Friday afternoon. The Sheridan Bruins and the Trent Excalibur battled it out for five sets before Sheridan finally prevailed. Both teams looked hungry for a win after losing their respective opening matches Thursday. Neither team could take control of the match, with each set coming down to the wire. Trent won the opening set 25-23 before Sheridan took the next two, 25-22 and 25-23. Trent forced a fifth set by winning the fourth 25-20. But Sheridan, guided by the strong play of their Player of the Game Jaclyn Devresse (#1), took the set and the match by a score of 16-14. Rebecca vanStaalduinen was named Player of the Game for Trent, whose tournament is now over. Sheridan will play Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Their opponents will be either the Fanshawe Falcons or the Humber Hawks, who play later Friday night at 7:00 PM.

Loyalist Lancers defeat Cambrian Golden Shield 3-1 (25-21, 25-27, 25-22, 25-13)
Loyalist advances to OCAA Bronze Semifinal

The hometown Loyalist Lancers gave their crowd plenty to cheer about in their second game of the OCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship Thursday evening. After failing to defeat Cambrian, the top team in the East division, in the regular season, the Lancers took the best-of-five matchup in four sets. With the audience voicing their presence, Loyalist took the opening set 25-21. Cambrian came back and took a close second set 27-25. But it was all Lancers after that. Player of the Game and Loyalist setter Leighann Bishop led her team to a 25-22 third set win, which seemed to take the wind out of Cambrian’s sails. The fourth set ended by a score of 25-13. The Lancers move on to Saturday morning’s bronze medal semi-final against either Mohawk or Nipissing. Cambrian lost both their games and will be heading home disappointed after coming into the tournament with high hopes.

Nipissing Lakers defeat Mohawk Mountaineers 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-14, 15-12)
Nipissing advances to OCAA Gold Medal Game

It was an instant classic at the OCAA Women’s Volleyball championship semi-finals at Loyalist College Friday night. Down two sets to the Mohawk Mountaineers, the Nipissing Lakers stormed back to win the next three to earn a spot in Saturday night’s Gold Medal game. Mohawk seemed poised to move on, taking the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21. But a rejuvenated Nipissing team, with a loud crowd on-hand to support them, took the third set 25-17, followed by a convincing 25-14 fourth set win to force a fifth and ultimate set.

In the fifth set, Mohawk rediscovered their strong play from the first two sets, but their last-ditch efforts went for naught as Nipissing, led by Player of the Game Rebecca Ramsay (#5) and off-side hitter Stefanie Hancock (#11), secured their spot in the finals with a 15-12 win. Mohawk’s setter Kellie Crnic had a fantastic game in the loss and was named Player of the Game for the Mountaineers, who will now play at 9:00 AM Saturday morning against the host Loyalist Lancers in the first Bronze Medal semi-final game. As for Nipissing, they will wait for the results of the Humber-Fanshawe game to see who they will face in Saturday night’s Championship final game. The Gold Medal match starts at 4:00 PM in the Loyalist College gymnasium. The Bronze Medal game is at 2:00 PM.

Humber Hawks defeat Fanshawe Falcons 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 24-26, 25-20)
Humber advances to OCAA Gold Medal Game

Humber's women's volleyball, winners of the last three consecutive OCAA championships, defeated Fanshawe in the semi finals and now will play for OCAA Gold on Saturday at Loyalist College in Belleville.

Humber won the first two sets in comfortable fashion by scores of 25-20 and 25-21.

The Fanshawe squad fought back and hsd the third set in hand, only to see Humber make up 6 points late and tie the match at 23. The Falcons team did not let go, and won 26-24.

Humber was in control in the fourth and deciding set and won 25-20.

The Hawks will now advance to the gold medal game, and will play a familiar foe in Nipissing University. This will be the sixth consecutive year that the two teams will play for the OCAA title. Humber has won four of the last five titles.

Saturday, February 26
Bronze Quarter-Finals
9 a.m. Loyalist vs. Mohawk
11 a.m. Sheridan vs. Fanshawe
OCAA Bronze Medal Game
3 p.m. TBA vs. TBA
OCAA Gold Medal Game
5 p.m. Humber vs. Nipissing

Championship Website: http://ocaa2011wvb.com/

Webcast: http://www.sportslive.ca/

Source: Loyalist College with files from Humber College