October 15, 2008
OUA SERVES UP WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SEASON
HAMILTON, Ont. - The 2008-09 Ontario University Athletics women's volleyball season begins this Friday as 13 teams look to dethrone the McMaster Marauders as OUA champions.
McMaster finished in first place in the OUA West Division with a 16-3 record in 2007-08. The Marauders soared past the Western Mustangs in the quarter-final 3-1, defeated the Ottawa Gee-Gees by a similar score in the semi-final before winning the OUA championship against the Toronto Varsity Blues 3-1. It was no small feat as Toronto had a 17-2 regular season record in the East Division.
McMaster will have OUA First Team All-Star setter Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, Ont.) back in its line-up, but will be without graduating seniors Carly Welch (Hamilton, Ont.) and Sarah Masterson (Pickering, Ont.). On the Toronto side, OUA All-Stars Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.), Michelle Wood (Toronto, Ont.) and Caley Venn (Bowmanville, Ont.) form the nucleus of a formidable team.
Christine Lamey (Ottawa, Ont.), who led OUA with 269 kills and 313 points in 2007-08, has graduated, creating a void on a Gee-Gees team that went 15-4 in the East Division. Former teammates and fellow OUA First Team All-Stars Kristen Brouse (Bracebridge, Ont.) and Laura Simons (London, Ont.) have also moved on.
The Guelph Gryphons are looking to improve on an 8-11 campaign a year ago, and are building confidence in the pre-season with victories over Toronto and the Ryerson Rams. The Lakehead Thunderwolves return fifth-year seniors and co-captains Brianne Bartlett (Dryden, Ont.) and Ashley Baer (Stratford, Ont.). Both returnees bring leadership and stability to a sophomore and freshmen laden line-up.
The Waterloo Warriors finished with a 14-5 record in 2007-08 as veterans Bojana Josipovic (Kitchener, Ont.) and Jara Brunt (Ashburn, Ont.) will be looked upon for their experience and leadership on the court. Josipovic returns for a fourth year as a two-time OUA All-Star and a Top 10 national leader in total points and kills per game. The Western Mustangs began the 2008-09 campaign in successful fashion, winning the McMaster Thanksgiving Tournament as did the York Lions who won their home tournament.
This year's Windsor Lancers squad features only one senior in outside hitter Brianna Binder (Maidstone, Ont.). Last season, Binder led the team in hitting percentage, racking up 233 kills in 671 swings for a .353 average, good for fifth in OUA.
There have been five different teams that have won the OUA women's volleyball title each of the past five seasons, including the aforementioned McMaster, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Windsor Lancers, Western Mustangs and Toronto Varsity Blues.
The OUA Final Four is scheduled for Feb. 20 and 21 and is presented by Mikasa, belairdirect. and Pizza Pizza. Visit OUA.ca for a complete women's volleyball schedule.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Photo credit: Michael P. Hall
McMaster finished in first place in the OUA West Division with a 16-3 record in 2007-08. The Marauders soared past the Western Mustangs in the quarter-final 3-1, defeated the Ottawa Gee-Gees by a similar score in the semi-final before winning the OUA championship against the Toronto Varsity Blues 3-1. It was no small feat as Toronto had a 17-2 regular season record in the East Division.
McMaster will have OUA First Team All-Star setter Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, Ont.) back in its line-up, but will be without graduating seniors Carly Welch (Hamilton, Ont.) and Sarah Masterson (Pickering, Ont.). On the Toronto side, OUA All-Stars Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.), Michelle Wood (Toronto, Ont.) and Caley Venn (Bowmanville, Ont.) form the nucleus of a formidable team.
Christine Lamey (Ottawa, Ont.), who led OUA with 269 kills and 313 points in 2007-08, has graduated, creating a void on a Gee-Gees team that went 15-4 in the East Division. Former teammates and fellow OUA First Team All-Stars Kristen Brouse (Bracebridge, Ont.) and Laura Simons (London, Ont.) have also moved on.
The Guelph Gryphons are looking to improve on an 8-11 campaign a year ago, and are building confidence in the pre-season with victories over Toronto and the Ryerson Rams. The Lakehead Thunderwolves return fifth-year seniors and co-captains Brianne Bartlett (Dryden, Ont.) and Ashley Baer (Stratford, Ont.). Both returnees bring leadership and stability to a sophomore and freshmen laden line-up.
The Waterloo Warriors finished with a 14-5 record in 2007-08 as veterans Bojana Josipovic (Kitchener, Ont.) and Jara Brunt (Ashburn, Ont.) will be looked upon for their experience and leadership on the court. Josipovic returns for a fourth year as a two-time OUA All-Star and a Top 10 national leader in total points and kills per game. The Western Mustangs began the 2008-09 campaign in successful fashion, winning the McMaster Thanksgiving Tournament as did the York Lions who won their home tournament.
This year's Windsor Lancers squad features only one senior in outside hitter Brianna Binder (Maidstone, Ont.). Last season, Binder led the team in hitting percentage, racking up 233 kills in 671 swings for a .353 average, good for fifth in OUA.
There have been five different teams that have won the OUA women's volleyball title each of the past five seasons, including the aforementioned McMaster, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Windsor Lancers, Western Mustangs and Toronto Varsity Blues.
The OUA Final Four is scheduled for Feb. 20 and 21 and is presented by Mikasa, belairdirect. and Pizza Pizza. Visit OUA.ca for a complete women's volleyball schedule.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Photo credit: Michael P. Hall
