OSHAWA, Ont. - Defeating the Redeemer Royals in a four-set duel, the Durham College women's volleyball team secured a berth to the OCAA championship next weekend in Sudbury. Set scores for the crossover qualifying match were 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 25-15.

Winning the playoff showdown sees the Lords return to the provincial championship after failing to qualify a year ago. The victory also maintains the Lords unblemished OCAA record, improving to 19-0 this season.

In the Saturday night showcase, Durham jumped out to a quick two-set lead, receiving strong play from a duo of offensive powerhouses in Jessica Joensen (Pickering, Ont.) and Allyson Terwillegar (Enniskillen, Ont.). Highlighting the first two sets for the Lords was a seven-point service run from first-year setter Georgi Williams (Whitby, Ont.), allowing DC to jump out to a quick 7-0 second set lead, which proved pivotal down the stretch when the Royals made a run. Redeemer carried over momentum from the late second set surge, taking a large lead early in the third and carrying it to draw 2-1 with the undefeated Lords. However, Durham would not be denied their place at the provincial tournament, answering with a dominant fourth set win. 

DC will match up with the host Cambrian Golden Shield in the quarter-final round of the OCAA championship next Friday, Feb. 22. First serve for the match is scheduled for 6 p.m.  
 

AT THE NET

• Four Lords players reached double-digit points in the playoff win, led by 17 points from third-year outside hitters Jessica Joensen and Allyson Terwillegar. Joensen tallied 13 kills, three service aces and one block, while Terwillegar registered 12 kills, two service aces and three blocks.
• Second-year middle Cassidy Nicholson-Clarke (Ajax, Ont.) added 12 points from eight kills and four blocks, while Lords regular season scoring leader Althea Boncheff (Alliston, Ont.),  totaled 11 points off of nine kills and two service aces.
• The Royals also saw four players reach double-digit points in the valiant four set effort, led by 17 points from Jasmyn Stoffers courtesy 11 kills and six service aces.
 

ON THE COURT

• Georgi Williams surpassed 30 assists for the fourth time this season with the Lords, guiding Durham's offence with 31 in the victory.
• DC's defence was put to the test by the Royals strong offensive game, but the Lords rallied with four players registering double-digit digs including a game-high 15 from Terwillegar.
• Along with leading Redeemer on the offensive side of the court, Stoffers also recorded a team-high 12 digs defensively.
 

QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS

Overall Record: 30-8
Conference Record: 18-0
 
Next game: OCAA championship (quarter-final) – Friday, Feb. 22 vs. Cambrian Golden Shield • 6 p.m. – Sudbury, Ont.

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