Game 5: Fanshawe Falcons vs. St. Clair Saints (Semi-Final)
NORTH BAY, Ont. - Some big-stage jitters led to some miscues early for both sides and saw each squad surrendering some un-earned points to one another. Those jitters didn't last long as this set quickly turned into the top-notch display of volleyball that the packed house here was anticipating. Both setters were running diverse offences early and getting everyone involved leaving the opposing defences on their toes. The Falcons started to separate themselves at 16-12 as St. Clair called a timeout. The Saints came back and side-out the next point on a powerful strike by Chantal Devlugt. The Falcons then found another gear fueled by their defence and the scoring efficiency of CCAA All-Canadian Janelle Albert. Fanshawe goes on to win the first set 25-14.
The Saints came out to an early lead, but Fanshawe soared back. The two West Division rivals were battling it out point for point. The set was a tale of the Saints supreme blocking versus the dynamic offence of the Falcons. With St. Clair's effective front court blocking trio of Kiana Gelissen, Chantal Devugt and Shalena Horst, the Saints found themselves ahead late by a score of 21-19. Devlugt unleashed offensively for the Saints, and Julie Ann Milling had some incredible digs late in this one that carried the Saints to a 25-22 set victory evening the match at one game a piece.
The third set brought more of the same high-powered offence by both clubs. The Falcons trailing by one or two points the entire match clawed back to earn themselves a late lead, 23-22 – the tensions were high! The Falcons won the set 25-23 in a hard fought sequence of rallies to end the set.
Two aces early in the fourth set courtesy of Kiana Gelissen staked the Saints to an early lead. Fanshawe's Albert responded the only way she knew how and quickly put her squad back in the lead with a couple of electric outside attacks, forcing the Saints to call an early time out down 8-4. Fanshawe's relentless efforts on both sides of the ball, exemplified by a huge performance by Mattea Deleary earned the team from London, Ont. a commanding lead late rolling to a fourth and deciding set victory 25-11.
Fanshawe earned themselves a berth to the gold medal game on Saturday at 5 p.m., while St. Clair will compete for a bronze medal at 2:30 p.m.
Players of the Game
Fanshawe: Mattea Deleary (8 kills, 1 block, 8 digs)
St. Clair: Julie Ann Milling (14 digs)
Game 6: Durham Lords vs. Humber Hawks (Semi-Final)
The Durham Lords came out strong and took an early lead in this one, but the Hawks quickly came surging back. The Hawks quickly found themselves with a 16-11 lead. A huge kill by Alexa Armstrong allowed Durham to side out, but then surrendered the next couple of points as Humber's Shiann Williams delivered a towering hit that finds the floor in a hurry. Williams then followed up with an intimidating block, while Megan Hunt and Haley Henderson delivered several kills late from the outside as the Hawks rolled to a first set victory 25-15.
The second set saw the No. 1 seed from the East take another early lead punctuated by a massive kill by Allyson Terwillegar for the Lords. Alex Krstonosic responded by building a roof over her opponent adding a massive block to her impressive season stat line. The Lords leapt back into the lead helped by an imposing cross-court strike by Althea Boncheff. Krstonosic then emerged once again when her team needed her and delivered back-to-back kills from the middle to knot the game at 14s. Humber used the momentum gained to build a three-point lead and forced a Durham timeout at 17-14. Unaffected by the break in play, the Hawks took a commanding 2-0 set lead by a score of 25-18.
With their backs against the wall, Durham came out of the gates hot and earned a 4-1 lead thanks to a tough series of serves courtesy of Boncheff. The Hawks battled back by means of Alex Bartman running an effective offence especially in transition. Fast-forward to mid-set, Boncheff for the Lords kept her team in the game with another tough series of serves and some tremendous swings from the outside. Down a few points, setter Karlina Domingo for Durham tried to spark a comeback for her team by turning on a ball and delivering a much needed point late in the match to help try to stave off elimination from gold medal contention. But, in the points that followed, Humber's middle tandem of Williams and Krstonosic each deliver crushing blows late in the match and the Hawks grabbed firmly onto the set, match, and berth to the championship game tomorrow night versus division rival Fanshawe Falcons. Set score: 25-16.
Durham Lords will kick things off tomorrow competing against St. Clair for the bronze medal at 2:30 p.m.
Congratulations to both teams for matches well played. It was an exciting contest to behold.
Players of the Game
Humber: Megan Hunt (8 Kills, 2 Aces)
Durham: Althea Boncheff (8 Kills, 1 Ace, 6 Digs)
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 def. St. Clair 3-1
Game #6: Humber def. Durham 3-0
Saturday, February 29
Bronze Medal Match
Game #7: St. Clair vs. Durham - 2:30 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Game #8: Fanshawe vs. Humber - 5 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match
- OCAA -
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