NORTH BAY, Ont. - What a match up to start the 2020 OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship at Canadore College! Steadfast defence and elite offensive weapons were on display for both sides.
The first set saw Mohawk take a commanding early lead on the back of their relentless defence to the tune of 15-7. Fanshawe used both of their timeouts early to try to slow the pace of the Mountaineers. It worked, as the Falcons battled back and played efficient volleyball on the back of OCAA Player of the Year Janelle Albert who made some incredible shots from the left-side who proved to be too much for the Mountaineers to handle in Set 1. Fanshawe went on to win this set 25-22.
The second set saw the Mountaineers stake an early lead yet again as they returned focused and primed a bounce-back set. With an early bid for "rally of the tournament", both teams showcased a brand of dynamic defence which seemingly made the rally last for minutes! With both teams left exhausted, Fanshawe put away a set to the left side to end the marathon. From then on out, it was a side-out set which saw Mohawk's Emilie McEachern make some key blocks and attacks to see her team eventually go on to win the set in extra points for a set score of 26-24.
Returning to the court for the third with both teams having earned a set victory, Fanshawe earned themselves a lead out of the gates. Timeouts couldn't slow the Falcons down as they went on to win the third set handily by a mark of 25-16.
Fanshawe carried this momentum into the fourth set and earned a set and match victory and a berth to the semi-finals tomorrow evening.
Players of the Game
Fanshawe: Janelle Albert, #9 (27 Kills, 31 points)
Mohawk: Kaelyn Emslie, #13 (18 digs)
Game 2: St. Clair Saints vs. Algonquin Thunder
The first set got off to an electric start as the St. Clair Saints took an early lead 6-3, but after an effective time out called by Algonquin, the game was tied at 11-11. St. Clair capitalized on some errors for the Thunder late in the set to roll a first set victory 25-15.
The second set was highlighted by elite defence by both squads, but St. Clair had some timely digs and blocks early on that swung the momentum in their favour once again.
The Saints carried their momentum through the rest of Set 2 and 3 by scores of 25-12, and 25-11 respectively. The Saints offence was carried by Shalena Horst who had nine kills, but was made possible by the fantastic offence that Saints setter Kimberly Quintanilla ran throughout the entire match (36 assists). Several Thunder had digs in the match to a total of 31 in three sets in a supreme defensive effort.
Players of the Game
St. Clair: Kimberly Quintanilla, #10
Algonquin: Marie Chantal "MC" Ozorak #11
Game 3 : Canadore Panthers vs Humber Hawks
A packed house. The hometown faithful came out in full force for this one! Side and end bleachers were full with folks out to support their community's Canadore Panthers. That being said – we would also like to give a "Shout Out" to the dancing parents on the top-right in the bleachers from Humber for gracing us with their dance moves!
A side-out, high-energy start to the match set the tone for this one. Exchanging blows, The Hawks and hometown Panthers went back and forth. Humber went on a late run and took it 25-19 in a wildly entertaining display of athleticism.
The second set brought us more amazing volleyball action! Blocks and hits by Kristine Ledger had the home crowd energized as her team rallied around her. Humber's Shiann Williams responded with an offensive outburst herself as she tried to quiet the bleacher – but there was no quieting the North Bay facility on a snowy Thursday evening. Huge kills by veteran Jess Venhuizen, second year player Tianna Head, and rookie Sarah Grassie took the atmosphere to another level. Both teams were thriving in this environment, but Humber continued to edge Canadore on a few back-to-back points leads to a timeout called by Canadore at 7-10. Canadore converts the next point, and Humber matches – the side-out style match continues. Humber's Alex Bartman ran a highly effective offence and created many opportunities for her hitters to score. Capitalizing on the home team's errors while playing flawless volleyball themselves late in the set, Humber took the second set 25-19.
Between sets, the announcer directs attention to a very special guest in the audience- two-time OCAA Hall-of-Fame inductee (Athlete, and then Builder category) and longtime Athletic Director at Canadore, Linda Turcotte! Her acknowledgement was met with a round of applause in the crowded Education Centre Gymnasium!
To the third we go - Humber starts the set with an ace courtesy of Bartman who adds to her stat line. Venhuizen responds with a powerful kill down the line. Blow-for-blow, the two powerful teams exchange points. After a Canadore time-out and some more back and forth action, Williams and Alex Krstonosic connect several times with Bartman for kills – true forces in the middle for the Hawks. At 19-11, Canadore call a time-out. All-star setter Ashlyn Kadlecik connects with her go-to-source-for-points Kristine Ledger for a late match rally and they cut into the Hawk's lead. In the end, the dynamic defensive performance of their back-court and the scoring efficiency of their middles was the difference in this one as Humber takes the set (25-17) and the match (3-0).
Players of the Game
Canadore: Kristine Ledger (9 Kills, 1 Ace, 5 Blocks)
Humber: Shiann Williams (10 Kills, 2 Aces, 2 Blocks)
Game 4: Durham Lords vs. Niagara Knights
After a back and forth beginning to the set, Allyson Terwillegar recorded a kill to extend the Lords lead to 17-14 as they hoped to break away. The Knights responded with two key points in transition, but the Lords responded in kind with two of their own to bring the margin back to three points. At 19-16, the trailing Knights called a pair of time outs to try to stop the momentum and it works as Niagara clawed back to within two points, 21-23 and forced their opposition to call a time out. Durham came out of their time out with renewed energy and sides out immediately. Niagara's Natasha Desjardins came back at Durham with a huge kill and forces another Durham time out at 24-23 in favour of the Lords. Terwillegar returns from the time out and delivers for her the Lords a finishing blow to the set, putting her team up 1-0 in the best three-out-of-five contest.
Terwillegar for Durham starts the second 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 third set, All-Canadian Jessica Joensen delivered 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 took the lead in the set 10-9. The Lords roared back with Georgi Williams connecting with 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)
Source: Canadore Panthers
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/wvb
Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/ocaalive
Thursday, February 27
Quarter-Finals
Game #1: Fanshawe def. Mohawk 3-1
Game #2: St. Clair def. Algonquin 3-0
Game #3: Humber def. Canadore 3-0
Game #4: Durham def. Niagara 3-0
Friday, February 28
Semi-Finals
Game #5: Fanshawe vs. St. Clair - 6 p.m.
Game #6: Humber vs. Durham - 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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