OSHAWA, Ont. - After completing the perfect 18-0 regular season, the No. 4 nationally ranked Durham College women's volleyball team maintained their undefeated streak in picking up an OCAA crossover victory over the Sheridan Bruins on Saturday night to claim their spot at the OCAA Championship in North Bay next week.

The Lords entered the match as the heavy favourite after winning the OCAA east division crown for the second consecutive season. Matching up with the OCAA west seventh-seeded Sheridan Bruins, DC was put to the test by the very game opponents. Pushed beyond three sets for just the fourth time this season, Durham was able to rebound following a hard-fought 28-26 second set loss. Led by career-high performances from Althea Boncheff (Alliston, Ont.) and Alexa Armstrong (Whitby, Ont.), along with double-digit outings from three more Lords, DC booked their ticket to the provincial championship with the four set victory.

The OCAA Championship is set to be hosted by Canadore College from Feb. 27-29. DC will matchup with the Niagara Knights in the quarter-final round, with their first match scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. Durham and Niagara have met once previously this season in an exhibition contest which the Lords took 3-1. DC will have added incentive as it was the Knights who knocked the Lords out of gold medal contention at last year's OCAA Championship. All the provincial championship action will be available via OCAA LIVE.
 

AT THE NET

• As mentioned, Boncheff led the Lords tying a career-best 22 points in the four set victory, finishing with 16 kills, one service ace, and five blocks.
• Surpassing her previous career-high of 13 points, Armstrong was dominant at the net, recording 18 points from 11 kills and an impressive seven blocks.
• Showcasing the Lords depth, Allyson Terwillegar (Enniskillen, Ont.), Cassidy Nicholson-Clarke (Ajax, Ont.), and Jessica Joensen (Newcastle, Ont.) added 16, 12, and 11 points, respectively.
• Sheridan delivered a strong performance despite the loss, seeing four players reach double-digits, topped by 14 points from Tanya Dourev who notched 11 kills and three blocks.
 

ON THE COURT

• Defence was key as DC libero Devyn Fraser (Uxbridge, Ont.) was everywhere on the court, finishing with a game-high 26 digs.
• Second-year setter Georgi Williams (Whitby, Ont.) finished the night with 39 assists, while fourth-year veteran Karlina Domingo (Pickering, Ont.) made her mark down the stretch with nine assists in the fourth and final set.
• Bruins setter Celine Blanchette finished the night with 32 assists, while Sydney Romans led the team defensively with 17 digs.
 

QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS

Overall Record: 34-6
Conference Record: 18-0
 
Next match: Thursday, Feb. 27 vs. Niagara Knights (OCAA Quarter-Final – 8 p.m. – North Bay, Ont.)

For all your Durham Lords updates make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram