The Battle of the Birds: Falcons vs. Hawks. This highly anticipated final match-up of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Volleyball Championship featured the West Division's No. 1-ranked Fanshawe Falcons versus the No. 2-ranked Humber Hawks. "Firing on all cylinders" may be an understatement at the mid-way through the first set and setters Ashley Rafferty (Fanshawe) and Alex Bartman (Humber) were getting everyone involved. These two teams are so deep that running these offences must be a sincere treat for these two talented setters.
Alex Lachapelle for Humber made several huge digs for her team, and Fanshawe All-Canadian Janelle Albert was all over the court on the defensive end getting touches on seemingly everything. Haley Henderson shone through late with several effective swings for the Hawks from the outside. Albert responded with an absolute deafening smash from the back court leaving the ball to be retrieved from the bleachers at the back of the gymnasium by the wonderful volunteers from the North Bay Youth Volleyball Club Lakers. Timeout Humber, down 22-18, the Falcons momentum would prove to be uninterrupted as Fanshawe secures a first set victory 25-18.
Lachapelle's supreme defence was on display once again in the second set as she made some important digs early on, and Bartman connected with Alex Krstonosic for a kill in the middle. Haley Henderson for the Hawks followed up with a massive solo block in the middle, and then Shiann Williams closed well with Bartman to connect for another block. The Hawks fans were on their feet.
Albert followed up with a line shot to spark the Falcon fans, and they are knotted at eight. After Williams and Bartman connected for another block on the outside, Rafferty for Fanshawe executed a beautiful setter's dump to side-out for her team. The Hawks refused to go away though as Henderson built a roof over Albert for a timeout-inducing block, called by Fanshawe down 10-14. After a Fanshawe side out the next point, the Hawks went on another run to force another Falcons timeout down 11-16. Megan Hunt could not be contained by the Falcons in this set, as she delivered another kill for the blue-and-gold. Humber evened this match by taking the set handily, 25-18.
To the third set we go! After both sides falter at the service line, the game cleaned up with perhaps the most exciting series of points that Fanshawe had provided in this championship. Albert, with a heavy pipe hit for a kill, followed by an incredible defensive performance where she registered a dig on a hit that had no business being dug. Down 12-7, the Hawks called a timeout. The Falcons continued to control this set as they doubled up on the Hawks 18-9. Cassidy Andrews came onto the court for the Hawks and sparked a mini-run for her team with an electric strike from the right side. The spark was a little too late as the Falcons took this set 25-18, and now up 2-1 in the match.
Andrews for the Hawks sparked her team again early in the fourth set with another huge kill. Lachapelle continued the positive run for the Hawks with some great digs and mixed in a beautiful assist for good measure. A timeout was then called by Fanshawe as the Hawks lead 8-5. Megan Hunt went to work for Humber registering points for her squad, but the Falcons would not go away. Albert registered three well placed roll shots in back-to-back-to-back rallies to score for her team and kept them in this game down only by one at a set score of 13-14. The Hawks proceeded to go on another run in this one and quickly found themselves up again 18-14. Albert responded with a block out of a Falcon timeout, but Andrews came back with another timely kill from the outside to score for her Hawks. The Falcons came soaring back, but still down by one at 24-23. Kim Hardy and Katie Stewart combined for the block of the match, and Albert got a kill on the next rally, as 25-24 was the score in favour of Fanshawe as Humber surrendered the lead. After Humber sides out a marathon rally, it is now tied at 25-25. Albert came back with a powerful kill from the right side to put her team up by a point. Stewart then delivered the finishing blow for the Falcons on a great set by Rafferty, 26-24. WOW-what a match!
Congratulations to both Humber and Fanshawe on an amazing championship and gold medal final performance. Fans that made their way to North Bay received an absolute treat in witnessing this match in person.
A big thank you to everyone involved in making this Championship possible!
Championship MVP
Janelle Albert (Fanshawe)
Championship All-Stars
Althea Boncheff (Durham)
Kimberly Quintanilla (St. Clair)
Alex Bartman (Humber)
Shiann Williams (Humber)
Mattea Deleary (Fanshawe)
Kiana Lee (Fanshawe)
Bronze Medal Match: Durham Lords vs. St. Clair Saints
The Battle for Bronze! This match began with a back court attack from Durham's CCAA All-Canadian Jessica Joensen that found the court for a kill and we're off! This East vs. West match-up featured some dynamic offensive weapons and some supreme defenders on both sides. The set was neck-and-neck the entire time with some amazing and timely digs by Durham's Hannah Amos and reigning player of the game from Friday's match, Julie Ann Milling for the Saints. Neither team would give an inch throughout this one providing some very tense and exciting points for the families and friends that travelled to North Bay to witness the match-up and provide a sea of green in the bleachers. Timeouts were called by both teams late and players returned to the court knotted at 23-23. Back-to-back miscues for the Lords gave the Saints the first set, 25-23.
Chantal Devlugt for the Saints started the second set off with a powerful kill shot down the line. Teammate Kiana Gelissen fed into the positive momentum by blasting an ace at the service line giving the Saints an early 5-2 lead. Durham's Pasha Ormerod responded with a timely block in the middle that got her team energized. Gelissen and Te-Anna Stephenson for the Saints responded mid-set with some huge offensive points that extended their team's lead late. The Saints rolled to a second set victory 25-19.
Kills from Durham's Joensen and St. Clair's Devulgt got fans from both sides into the third set. This one was back and forth from the onset. Down by two, the Lords went on a late set surge to earn themselves a two-point lead forcing a St. Clair timeout. Alexa Armstrong for Durham helped maintain the Lords momentum by coming up with a huge block out of the time out. The Saints responded, and tied the game at 22. After a fierce and tension-filled final stretch, the Saints came away with the victory in straight sets, set score 25-23.
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 def. Durham 3-0
Gold Medal Match
Game #8: Fanshawe def. Humber 3-1
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student-athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 27 members sponsoring 12 varsity sports.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com