February 23, 2006
FINAL FOUR SET FOR U OF T
TORONTO - Unity has been a trademark quality of the Toronto Varsity Blues women's volleyball team this season. From cooking together to burying most opponents in straight sets, the Blues have been a tight squad and that closeness helped them manufacture an impressive 17-2 record en route to an East Division regular season crown. The No. 9 nationally-ranked Blues now attempt to regain the Ontario University Athletics championship banner as they host the Women's Final Four Volleyball Championship set for February 24 and 25 at the U of T. Before the Western Mustangs snapped the streak last season, Toronto had won four straight titles. A team that blends talent, athleticism and intelligence has a chance to make it five of six.
"I knew right from the first week of September that this was a unique and special group," says Toronto captain Mila Miguel. "We all share a common goal, and passion for volleyball, and we get along so well off the court. We are all more then just teammates; we help keep each other on track with our frequent study dates and cooking festivities. We motivate and push each other on and off the court. Everyone contributes so much and I feel that our depth is what has made us better throughout the season and is what will carry us through into the playoffs."
Toronto dropped just 11 sets all season long before blanking the Lakehead Thunderwolves 3-0 in an OUA quarter-final match-up last Saturday. The Blues will host the West's third-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks (13-6) in one Final Four match, while the powerful Ottawa Gee-Gees (15-4, second in the East) take on the surprising Windsor Lancers (12-7, fourth in the West). Windsor eliminated the defending champion Mustangs with a 3-2 come-from-behind win in London last Thursday.
Laurier advanced with a 3-2 road win over the West's second-seeded McMaster Marauders last Saturday. The Hawks have a solid core group, led by first-team all-star Danielle Walker (Oakville, ON), who paced the OUA with 238 kills. The imposing outside hitter pounded out a match-high 20 kills against the Marauders, while fellow first-team all-star setter Laura Horner (Shelburne, ON) had 55 assists. Laurier also features the West's Libero of the Year Melissa St. Amant (Penetanguishine, ON). St. Amant had 253 digs on the year. Toronto head coach Kristine Drakich knows her Blues will be in tough against the well-rounded Hawks.
"What the season showed is that everyone was tremendously competitive," says Drakich. "We haven't seen Laurier since the fall but they're a team that plays good defence and has firepower on offence. We'll have to take care of our side of the court."
Toronto's depth of talent and versatility has had a big impact on its strong record this season. The Blues boast to first-team all-stars in Miguel and Anastasia Danilova (St. Petersburg, Russia), two second-team all stars in middle Leah Towell (London, ON) and fifth-year libero Elodie Li Yuk Lo (Toronto, ON) and also the OUA East Rookie of the Year, Ali Greey (Toronto, ON). Danilova was a first-team All-Canadian and plays both the middle and setter, while Miguel is one of the inspirational leaders on the team, finishing 13th in the league in both kills (171) and digs (241). Greey has evolved as a setter throughout the year and showed her ability to lead the offence with a match-high 31 assists in the win over Lakehead. The Blues ended the season a down note with a 3-2 loss to fellow semi-finalist Ottawa but the top-seeded hosts are organized again.
"˜We had a brief moment where we were focused on the end result, and forgot about what we were doing," says Miguel. "That loss only made us stronger, we are back on our path, confident, calm and connected. Just last week a teammate was telling me how excited she was to go to practice, how much she was enjoying volleyball right now, and how good she felt about it. At the end of a long season my teammate re-sparked something in me as well, reminded me why we are doing this, not to get the W at the end of the game, but to play, just to play the game."
The second Final Four match-up pits the red-hot Lancers against the young, but poised Gee-Gees. Windsor got off to a slow start in the fall but dropped just two matches since returning from the Christmas break and the Lancers carried that form into the post-season by dumping the Mustangs in convincing fashion. After trailing 2-1 in sets, Windsor rallied behind a boisterous section of traveling fans to beat Western 25-21 in the fourth and then pounded the hosts in the fifth 15-7.
"It was really exciting," says fourth-year Hamilton, ON native Bethany Petkoff. "I think we had more fans than they did. Our whole team was working together. We did have a lot of confidence especially because we beat them earlier in the year in another marathon.
"This one put us over the top."
Petkoff was a second-team all-star for the Lancers as an outside hitter, while fifth-year Lancer Kaitlin Morrissey (Windsor, ON) also made the second team following a strong season with 187 kills and 243 digs. Setter Kelly Paoloini (Windsor, ON) led the team in assists with 521, ranking third in the league with 8.40 assists per game. Windsor will have to be sharp against the ever-improving Gee-Gees. Ottawa advanced last week with a tough 3-2 win over the gritty York Lions (14-5). According to Ottawa head coach Lionel Woods, the Lions "brought it" in the third and fourth sets but they couldn't crack the resilient Gee-Gees, who actually trailed 13-10 in the decisive fifth.
"This is my youngest team in a long time and I don't know what it is, but every time they're down, they show some fire," says Woods. "Part of the foundation of their success is the mental toughness."
Ottawa was forced to show some survival instincts early on this season when first-year star Joanie Beauregard-Veillette blew out her knee. Woods said the injury forced the team to re-focus and get back to the basics of the game. With talents like power hitter Christine Lamey (Kanata, ON), setter Laura Simons (London, ON) and captain Manon Ouelette (Orleans, ON), Ottawa was able to make up for the loss of Beauregard-Veillette collectively. Lamey finished third in the league with 232 kills, while Simons led the OUA with 8.90 assists per game. Ouellette was the East's Libero of the Year. Standout rookie Karine Gagnon (Granby, QC) chipped in 111 kills and 120 digs and fourth-year veteran Melissa Maddocks (Chatham, ON) played a key leadership role, along with Ouelette.
"They've done a wonderful job of keeping it light and making it about more than just winning and losing," says Woods.
OUA WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, February 24
Semi-final #1
Laurier vs. Toronto - 6:00 pm
Semi-final #2
Windsor vs Ottawa - 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 25
OUA Bronze Medal match - 6:00 pm
OUA Gold Medal match - 8:00 pm
The OUA Women's Final Four Championship is sponsored by Wilson Sports Equipment Canada and Pizza Pizza.
- O U A -
(Photo: The gutsy Windsor Lancers search out another upset at the Final Four this weekend in Toronto. Photo by Craig Glover.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
"I knew right from the first week of September that this was a unique and special group," says Toronto captain Mila Miguel. "We all share a common goal, and passion for volleyball, and we get along so well off the court. We are all more then just teammates; we help keep each other on track with our frequent study dates and cooking festivities. We motivate and push each other on and off the court. Everyone contributes so much and I feel that our depth is what has made us better throughout the season and is what will carry us through into the playoffs."
Toronto dropped just 11 sets all season long before blanking the Lakehead Thunderwolves 3-0 in an OUA quarter-final match-up last Saturday. The Blues will host the West's third-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks (13-6) in one Final Four match, while the powerful Ottawa Gee-Gees (15-4, second in the East) take on the surprising Windsor Lancers (12-7, fourth in the West). Windsor eliminated the defending champion Mustangs with a 3-2 come-from-behind win in London last Thursday.
Laurier advanced with a 3-2 road win over the West's second-seeded McMaster Marauders last Saturday. The Hawks have a solid core group, led by first-team all-star Danielle Walker (Oakville, ON), who paced the OUA with 238 kills. The imposing outside hitter pounded out a match-high 20 kills against the Marauders, while fellow first-team all-star setter Laura Horner (Shelburne, ON) had 55 assists. Laurier also features the West's Libero of the Year Melissa St. Amant (Penetanguishine, ON). St. Amant had 253 digs on the year. Toronto head coach Kristine Drakich knows her Blues will be in tough against the well-rounded Hawks.
"What the season showed is that everyone was tremendously competitive," says Drakich. "We haven't seen Laurier since the fall but they're a team that plays good defence and has firepower on offence. We'll have to take care of our side of the court."
Toronto's depth of talent and versatility has had a big impact on its strong record this season. The Blues boast to first-team all-stars in Miguel and Anastasia Danilova (St. Petersburg, Russia), two second-team all stars in middle Leah Towell (London, ON) and fifth-year libero Elodie Li Yuk Lo (Toronto, ON) and also the OUA East Rookie of the Year, Ali Greey (Toronto, ON). Danilova was a first-team All-Canadian and plays both the middle and setter, while Miguel is one of the inspirational leaders on the team, finishing 13th in the league in both kills (171) and digs (241). Greey has evolved as a setter throughout the year and showed her ability to lead the offence with a match-high 31 assists in the win over Lakehead. The Blues ended the season a down note with a 3-2 loss to fellow semi-finalist Ottawa but the top-seeded hosts are organized again.
"˜We had a brief moment where we were focused on the end result, and forgot about what we were doing," says Miguel. "That loss only made us stronger, we are back on our path, confident, calm and connected. Just last week a teammate was telling me how excited she was to go to practice, how much she was enjoying volleyball right now, and how good she felt about it. At the end of a long season my teammate re-sparked something in me as well, reminded me why we are doing this, not to get the W at the end of the game, but to play, just to play the game."
The second Final Four match-up pits the red-hot Lancers against the young, but poised Gee-Gees. Windsor got off to a slow start in the fall but dropped just two matches since returning from the Christmas break and the Lancers carried that form into the post-season by dumping the Mustangs in convincing fashion. After trailing 2-1 in sets, Windsor rallied behind a boisterous section of traveling fans to beat Western 25-21 in the fourth and then pounded the hosts in the fifth 15-7.
"It was really exciting," says fourth-year Hamilton, ON native Bethany Petkoff. "I think we had more fans than they did. Our whole team was working together. We did have a lot of confidence especially because we beat them earlier in the year in another marathon.
"This one put us over the top."
Petkoff was a second-team all-star for the Lancers as an outside hitter, while fifth-year Lancer Kaitlin Morrissey (Windsor, ON) also made the second team following a strong season with 187 kills and 243 digs. Setter Kelly Paoloini (Windsor, ON) led the team in assists with 521, ranking third in the league with 8.40 assists per game. Windsor will have to be sharp against the ever-improving Gee-Gees. Ottawa advanced last week with a tough 3-2 win over the gritty York Lions (14-5). According to Ottawa head coach Lionel Woods, the Lions "brought it" in the third and fourth sets but they couldn't crack the resilient Gee-Gees, who actually trailed 13-10 in the decisive fifth.
"This is my youngest team in a long time and I don't know what it is, but every time they're down, they show some fire," says Woods. "Part of the foundation of their success is the mental toughness."
Ottawa was forced to show some survival instincts early on this season when first-year star Joanie Beauregard-Veillette blew out her knee. Woods said the injury forced the team to re-focus and get back to the basics of the game. With talents like power hitter Christine Lamey (Kanata, ON), setter Laura Simons (London, ON) and captain Manon Ouelette (Orleans, ON), Ottawa was able to make up for the loss of Beauregard-Veillette collectively. Lamey finished third in the league with 232 kills, while Simons led the OUA with 8.90 assists per game. Ouellette was the East's Libero of the Year. Standout rookie Karine Gagnon (Granby, QC) chipped in 111 kills and 120 digs and fourth-year veteran Melissa Maddocks (Chatham, ON) played a key leadership role, along with Ouelette.
"They've done a wonderful job of keeping it light and making it about more than just winning and losing," says Woods.
OUA WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, February 24
Semi-final #1
Laurier vs. Toronto - 6:00 pm
Semi-final #2
Windsor vs Ottawa - 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 25
OUA Bronze Medal match - 6:00 pm
OUA Gold Medal match - 8:00 pm
The OUA Women's Final Four Championship is sponsored by Wilson Sports Equipment Canada and Pizza Pizza.
- O U A -
(Photo: The gutsy Windsor Lancers search out another upset at the Final Four this weekend in Toronto. Photo by Craig Glover.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
