February 18, 2008
TORONTO SET TO HOST OUA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL FINAL FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Toronto 3, Queen's 0
The Varsity Blues women's volleyball team proved why they are the team to beat in the OUA playoffs, downing the visiting Queen's Golden Gaels 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 27-25) in an OUA quarter-final match at the University of Toronto's Athletics Centre Sports Gym February 15, 2008.
The No. 9 Varsity Blues were down 4-1 early in the first set to the scrappy Queen's crew, but would methodically work their way back into the game point by point. Tied at 10, the Blues started to distance themselves from their divisional opponent with great net defence and huge kills from fifth-year veterans Anastasia Danilova (Toronto, Ont.) and Mila Miguel (Victoria, BC), and middles Caley Venn (Bowmanville, Ont.) and Kristina Valjas (Toronto, Ont.).
A Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) cross-court kill would establish a six-point lead in the first (22-16), which would end moments later on a Danilova kill through the block of two Queen's defenders.
The second game would bring more intensity on the part of the Blues. Like a fine oiled machine, Toronto's hitters found their spots while their defence, led by third-year Libero Michelle Wood (Toronto, Ont.), rallied to save every ball that came their way.
A close 6-5 Blues lead would jump to 13-5 as Toronto knocked off six-straight points. In a rut, the Gaels looked for answers but could not come up with anything to derail this high-powered offensive attack. Costly errors, including a net serve on game point, would end this second game quickly, 25-11.
The third game would start much the same as the other two; the Blues jumped out to an early lead and seemed to have things under control. As Danilova took the serve with the Blues up 5-3, the score would quickly get to 9-3 powered by two big Valjas kills right down the middle.
Queen's, however, was not ready to lie down just yet. They gutted out point after point and at the second technical timeout had come to within two points. Down 14-16 coming out of the break, the Gaels made a push for the win and would rattle off five-straight points of their own to take the lead 22-18.
The OUA's top seed was ready for the challenge: the Blues settled down, regrouped and fought back to tie the game at 22. And in what was a point-for-point rally to the finish, would end on a big kill to go up one, 26-25, and an even-bigger block on match point by fifth-year senior Miguel.
Danilova would lead all hitters on this night with 12 kills, while Venn and Miguel knocked down eight and seven respectively. Wood would be outstanding in the backcourt, picking up a game-high 16 digs.
McMaster 3, Western 1
It took them a little while to get going but the McMaster Marauders women's volleyball team shifted into high gear on Saturday in front of a boisterous home crowd; defeating the Western Mustangs 3-1 in OUA quarterfinal action.
McMaster stalled off the start and Western claimed the first set 26-24 before the Marauders found their groove and were able to cruise through the final three frames 25-17, 25-12, and 25-21. With the win the Marauders advance to the OUA Final Four where they will get their chance to compete for the OUA Championship title.
Western carried the momentum from winning the first set forward and seemed poised to win the second set until Rachel Tittarelli (Stoney Creek, ON) stepped up to serve. Half a dozen serves later, including an ace, the Marauders had stolen control of the game and the Mustangs were down a few timeouts.
Kaila Janssen (Whitby, ON) spent some time in the driver's seat landing a game-high 11 kills and 3 aces to pace the floor with 17 points. Carly Welch (Hamilton, ON) helped with acceleration by dropping 10 kills and 12 points to go along with her 14 digs. Sarah Masterton (Pickering, ON) also had 12 points including 3 solo blocks and 6 assisted blocks.
The Marauders outplayed their opponents with solid team defense, coming up with 26 total blocks compared to Western's 14. Cameron Breigh (Pickering, ON), Jackie Sauve (Penetangueshene, ON) and Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, ON) all pitched in with 11 digs, while Holt added 33 assists.
The Mustangs went kill-for-kill with McMaster thanks in part to Saray Lowry and Elaine Screaton who landed 9 kills each. Sara Farrell and Leah Towell delivered another 8 apeice. However 10 serving errors and a few unlucky bounces proved to be a lethal combination for the visitors.
The Varsity Blues women's volleyball team proved why they are the team to beat in the OUA playoffs, downing the visiting Queen's Golden Gaels 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 27-25) in an OUA quarter-final match at the University of Toronto's Athletics Centre Sports Gym February 15, 2008.
The No. 9 Varsity Blues were down 4-1 early in the first set to the scrappy Queen's crew, but would methodically work their way back into the game point by point. Tied at 10, the Blues started to distance themselves from their divisional opponent with great net defence and huge kills from fifth-year veterans Anastasia Danilova (Toronto, Ont.) and Mila Miguel (Victoria, BC), and middles Caley Venn (Bowmanville, Ont.) and Kristina Valjas (Toronto, Ont.).
A Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) cross-court kill would establish a six-point lead in the first (22-16), which would end moments later on a Danilova kill through the block of two Queen's defenders.
The second game would bring more intensity on the part of the Blues. Like a fine oiled machine, Toronto's hitters found their spots while their defence, led by third-year Libero Michelle Wood (Toronto, Ont.), rallied to save every ball that came their way.
A close 6-5 Blues lead would jump to 13-5 as Toronto knocked off six-straight points. In a rut, the Gaels looked for answers but could not come up with anything to derail this high-powered offensive attack. Costly errors, including a net serve on game point, would end this second game quickly, 25-11.
The third game would start much the same as the other two; the Blues jumped out to an early lead and seemed to have things under control. As Danilova took the serve with the Blues up 5-3, the score would quickly get to 9-3 powered by two big Valjas kills right down the middle.
Queen's, however, was not ready to lie down just yet. They gutted out point after point and at the second technical timeout had come to within two points. Down 14-16 coming out of the break, the Gaels made a push for the win and would rattle off five-straight points of their own to take the lead 22-18.
The OUA's top seed was ready for the challenge: the Blues settled down, regrouped and fought back to tie the game at 22. And in what was a point-for-point rally to the finish, would end on a big kill to go up one, 26-25, and an even-bigger block on match point by fifth-year senior Miguel.
Danilova would lead all hitters on this night with 12 kills, while Venn and Miguel knocked down eight and seven respectively. Wood would be outstanding in the backcourt, picking up a game-high 16 digs.
McMaster 3, Western 1
It took them a little while to get going but the McMaster Marauders women's volleyball team shifted into high gear on Saturday in front of a boisterous home crowd; defeating the Western Mustangs 3-1 in OUA quarterfinal action.
McMaster stalled off the start and Western claimed the first set 26-24 before the Marauders found their groove and were able to cruise through the final three frames 25-17, 25-12, and 25-21. With the win the Marauders advance to the OUA Final Four where they will get their chance to compete for the OUA Championship title.
Western carried the momentum from winning the first set forward and seemed poised to win the second set until Rachel Tittarelli (Stoney Creek, ON) stepped up to serve. Half a dozen serves later, including an ace, the Marauders had stolen control of the game and the Mustangs were down a few timeouts.
Kaila Janssen (Whitby, ON) spent some time in the driver's seat landing a game-high 11 kills and 3 aces to pace the floor with 17 points. Carly Welch (Hamilton, ON) helped with acceleration by dropping 10 kills and 12 points to go along with her 14 digs. Sarah Masterton (Pickering, ON) also had 12 points including 3 solo blocks and 6 assisted blocks.
The Marauders outplayed their opponents with solid team defense, coming up with 26 total blocks compared to Western's 14. Cameron Breigh (Pickering, ON), Jackie Sauve (Penetangueshene, ON) and Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, ON) all pitched in with 11 digs, while Holt added 33 assists.
The Mustangs went kill-for-kill with McMaster thanks in part to Saray Lowry and Elaine Screaton who landed 9 kills each. Sara Farrell and Leah Towell delivered another 8 apeice. However 10 serving errors and a few unlucky bounces proved to be a lethal combination for the visitors.
