After a back and forth beginning to the set, #10 Durham with a kill to extend the Lords lead to 17-14 as they hoped to break away. The Knights responded with 2 key points in transition, but the Lords responded in kind with 2 of their own to bring the margin back to 3 points. At 19-16, the trailing Knights called a pair of time outs to try to stop the momentum and it works as Niagara claw back to within 2 points, 21-23 and force their opposition to call a time out. Durham comes out of their time out with renewed energy and sides out immediately. Niagara's Natasha Desjardins comes back at Durham with a huge kill and forces another Durham time out at 24-23 in favour of the lords. Allyson Terwillegar for her the Lords returns from the time out and delivers a finishing blow to the set ensuring putting her team up 1-0 in the best 3-out-of-5 contest.
Allyson Terwillegar for Durham starts the 2nd set the way she finished the last with a huge kill from the outside. Niagara's Victoria Golebiowski responds with a devastating line shot and subsequent cross-court smash of her own. After some Niagara defensive miscues and a huge block by opposing player Althea Boncheff for Durham, Niagara found themselves down 11-6. Durham held their lead and went on to eventually win the set by a score of 25-21.
Early on in the 3rd set, All-Canadian Jessica Joensen delievered a huge pipe kill and put the Lords up 4-1. Alexa Armstrong followed it up with a huge block on the outside to force the Knights to take a time out. Backed by some huge digs by Madelyn Berg and several points at the net by Tamara Edwards, Niagara take the lead in the set 10-9. The Lords roared back with Georgi Williams connecting with Althea Boncheff on some key points to take back the lead. The two sides continued the back and forth affair as both teams were leaving it all on the court. In an exciting finish, the Durham Lords took the set 26-24 and in turn the match as they punch their tickets to semi-finals tomorrow evening.
Players of the Game:
Durham: Georgi Williams (30 Assists, 2 Aces, 1 Block, 10 Digs)
Niagara: Victoria Golebiowski (11 points)