NORTH BAY, Ont. - Canadore College plays host to the 2020 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Volleyball Championship beginning Thursday.
All three of last year's OCAA medalists return to the big stage, including the defending provincial champion Fanshawe Falcons, runner-up Niagara Knights, and bronze winner Durham Lords.
The championship will showcase the top three regular season teams from the East Division, including undefeated Durham, the Algonquin Thunder and host Canadore Panthers, as well as the top five clubs from the West Division, including Fanshawe, the Humber Hawks, the St. Clair Saints, Niagara and the Mohawk Mountaineers. It should make for an exciting three days of competition.
Four OCAA quarter-final matches take place on Thursday, leading to Friday's semi-finals. The semi-final winners advance to Saturday's gold medal match, while the losing teams play for bronze. There will not be a consolation round unlike past championships.
The OCAA champion advances to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Volleyball National Championship in Quebec City from Mar. 11-14.
Mohawk (11-7, 5th West) vs. Fanshawe (17-1, 1st West)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 1 p.m.
The defending champions open the competition in a familiar West Division showdown. Fanshawe enters the championship having lost just eight sets in 18 regular season matches.
Fanshawe is led by reigning OCAA Player of the Year Janelle Albert (Brampton, Ont.), who led the league averaging 5.9 points and 4.89 kills per set. Teammate Ashley Rafferty (Peace River, Alta.) led all OCAA players averaging 9.48 assists per set.
Mohawk features fifth-year libero Kinsley Child (Wainfleet, Ont.) who led the OCAA averaging 4.59 digs per set. Teammate Kaelyn Emslie (St. Catharines, Ont.) was among the top OCAA players averaging 3.26 kills per set.
Fanshawe won both regular season meetings against Mohawk in straight sets.
St. Clair (13-5, 3rd West) vs. Algonquin (15-3, 2nd East)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 3 p.m.
The Algonquin Thunder and St. Clair Saints begin a run of three straight East-West showdowns to close out the OCAA quarter-finals.
Algonquin features fourth-year outside hitter Rylee Leger (Alexandria, Ont.) who led the East Division averaging 3.9 points per set, good for second place behind Albert.
St. Clair will counter with third-year middle Kiana Gelissen (LaSalle, Ont.), who averaged an OCAA second-best 0.75 blocks per set during the regular season.
The Saints are one year removed from earning the provincial bronze medal as they look to climb back onto the podium.
Canadore (15-3, 3rd East) vs. Humber (15-3, 2nd West)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 6 p.m.
The host Canadore Panthers enter the spotlight against a perennial favourite in the Humber Hawks.
Both teams had identical regular season records albeit playing on different sides of the province. Fourth-year left side Jess Venhuizen (London, Ont.) led the Panthers in offence averaging 3.4 points per set.
Humber features third-year middle Shiann Williams (Toronto, Ont.) who led all OCAA players averaging 0.84 blocks per set.
The Panthers were 8-1 at home this season with their only loss a near five-set upset of undefeated Durham. Humber is one year removed from 11 consecutive OCAA championships.
Niagara (12-6, 4th West) vs. Durham (18-0, 1st East)
Thursday, Feb. 27 - 8 p.m.
The last quarter-final on Thursday features a semi-final rematch from last year. The Durham Lords and Niagara Knights both finished atop the podium in 2019, but one of these teams will be sent home early in 2020.
The Lords remain the lone undefeated team in the OCAA, having lost only five sets in 19 matches (including post-season). Durham features second-year setter Georgi Williams (Whitby, Ont.) averaging a league-best 0.76 aces per set.
Niagara is led offensively by third-year outside hitter Natasha Desjardins (Welland, Ont.) and her 3.6 points per set average.
The Knights have a streak of five straight seasons earning an OCAA medal on the line.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/wvb
Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/ocaalive
Thursday, February 27
Quarter-Finals
Game #1: Mohawk vs. Fanshawe - 1 p.m.
Game #2: St. Clair vs. Algonquin - 3 p.m.
Game #3: Canadore vs. Humber - 6 p.m.
Game #4: Niagara vs. Durham - 8 p.m.
Friday, February 28
Semi-Finals
Game #5: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 - 6 p.m.
Game #6: Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 29
Bronze Medal Match
Game #7: Loser Game #5 vs. Loser Game #6 - 2:30 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Game #8: Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 - 5 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match
- OCAA -
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The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student-athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 27 members sponsoring 12 varsity sports.
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Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com