February 19, 2009
FOUR TEAMS COMPETE FOR OUA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SUPREMACY
HAMILTON, Ont. - The top four teams in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's volleyball converge on the campus of York University in Toronto, Ont. for the OUA Final Four Women's Volleyball Championship, presented by Mikasa Sports Canada, Pizza Pizza and belairdirect. Car Insurance.
The No. 9 nationally-ranked York Lions enter the tournament with a bull's eye on their backs, not only as the host team but the club with the best record in OUA at 19-1, including a nail-biting 3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 25-18, 20-25, 17-15) victory over the Queen's Gaels in the OUA quarter-final on home court last Saturday.
The Lions picked up their share of recognition already, with East Division Libero of the Year Antonia Stathakos (Brampton, Ont.), Rookie of the Year Thinesa Sriskandarajah (Scarborough, Ont.) and Coach of the Year Arif Nathoo in their ranks. Stathakos was among the OUA leaders in digs in 2008-09 with 259, an average of 4.62 a set to lead the division during the regular season. Left side Sriskandarajah was second in OUA averaging 3.38 kills per set for a total of 203. She also contributed 20 service aces, 12 blocks and 127 digs during the regular season. The Lions have a total of four OUA All-Stars on their side.
York should have confidence heading into the tournament, with victories over the Toronto Varsity Blues and Western Mustangs in 2008-09. Only the McMaster Marauders have been able to defeat the Lions this season, a 3-1 (25-13, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19) win at the Burridge Gym in Hamilton, Ont. on Feb. 7.
The Lions draw the Mustangs (16-4) in the semi-final. These two teams opened the season against each other on the same court, with York prevailing 3-2 (25-18, 25-27, 23-25, 27-25, 15-9) back on Oct. 31. The top two liberos in OUA will be on the same court, as Western's Andrea Ruste (Edmonton, Alta.) led OUA in digs with 349, fifty-one digs better than her closest competitor. Ruste also led OUA with an average of 5.54 digs per set en route to being named the West Division's Libero of the Year.
Ruste is one of three OUA All-Stars on the Mustangs. Middle Sara Farrell (London, Ont.) was named a First Team All-Star. She was among the team leaders in kills with 164 and blocks with 47. Sarah Johnston (Stratford, Ont.) was named to the Second Team.
The other semi-final pits the Varsity Blues (13-7) against the Marauders. This is a rematch of last season's OUA final, which McMaster won 3-1 (28-30, 25-14, 25-22, 25-16). The Marauders defeated Toronto at home earlier in the 2008-09 season by a similar 3-1 score (25-7, 25-12, 15-25, 25-15).
McMaster (16-4) is led by OUA First Team All-Stars Heidi Bench (St. Catharines, Ont.) and Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, Ont.). Bench, who plays left side, was sixth in total kills with 185. Kaila Janssen (Oshawa, Ont.) and Sarah Kiernan (Hamilton, Ont.) were named Second Team All-Stars, and Shannon McRobert (Whitby, Ont.) was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Left side Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) was Toronto's lone First Team All-Star this season. She is one of OUA's top players with a league-high 265 kills this season, averaging 4.27 per set. Bansley was also second in service ace with 56. Teammate Kathleen Mahannah (Vancouver, B.C.) was named to the OUA Second Team.
The winner of the OUA championship advances to the Canadian Interuniversity Spot (CIS) Women's Volleyball Championship from Feb. 26 to 28 in Fredericton, N.B.
Fans can view all four games live via webcast on www.SSNCanada.ca. The games will also appear on Rogers TV York Region on tape delay. The semi-finals will air on Sat., Feb. 21 beginning at 8 p.m., while the Bronze Medal and OUA Final will go to air on Sun., Feb. 22 beginning at 7 p.m.
2008-09 OUA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
(Presented by Mikasa, Pizza Pizza and belairdirect./Hosted by York University)
Fri., Feb. 20
Semi-Finals
6 p.m. – Toronto vs. McMaster
8 p.m. – Western vs. York
Sat., Feb. 21
Bronze Medal Game
6 p.m. – Semi-Final Losing Teams
OUA Final
8 p.m. – Semi-Final Winning Teams
– 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.
The No. 9 nationally-ranked York Lions enter the tournament with a bull's eye on their backs, not only as the host team but the club with the best record in OUA at 19-1, including a nail-biting 3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 25-18, 20-25, 17-15) victory over the Queen's Gaels in the OUA quarter-final on home court last Saturday.
The Lions picked up their share of recognition already, with East Division Libero of the Year Antonia Stathakos (Brampton, Ont.), Rookie of the Year Thinesa Sriskandarajah (Scarborough, Ont.) and Coach of the Year Arif Nathoo in their ranks. Stathakos was among the OUA leaders in digs in 2008-09 with 259, an average of 4.62 a set to lead the division during the regular season. Left side Sriskandarajah was second in OUA averaging 3.38 kills per set for a total of 203. She also contributed 20 service aces, 12 blocks and 127 digs during the regular season. The Lions have a total of four OUA All-Stars on their side.
York should have confidence heading into the tournament, with victories over the Toronto Varsity Blues and Western Mustangs in 2008-09. Only the McMaster Marauders have been able to defeat the Lions this season, a 3-1 (25-13, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19) win at the Burridge Gym in Hamilton, Ont. on Feb. 7.
The Lions draw the Mustangs (16-4) in the semi-final. These two teams opened the season against each other on the same court, with York prevailing 3-2 (25-18, 25-27, 23-25, 27-25, 15-9) back on Oct. 31. The top two liberos in OUA will be on the same court, as Western's Andrea Ruste (Edmonton, Alta.) led OUA in digs with 349, fifty-one digs better than her closest competitor. Ruste also led OUA with an average of 5.54 digs per set en route to being named the West Division's Libero of the Year.
Ruste is one of three OUA All-Stars on the Mustangs. Middle Sara Farrell (London, Ont.) was named a First Team All-Star. She was among the team leaders in kills with 164 and blocks with 47. Sarah Johnston (Stratford, Ont.) was named to the Second Team.
The other semi-final pits the Varsity Blues (13-7) against the Marauders. This is a rematch of last season's OUA final, which McMaster won 3-1 (28-30, 25-14, 25-22, 25-16). The Marauders defeated Toronto at home earlier in the 2008-09 season by a similar 3-1 score (25-7, 25-12, 15-25, 25-15).
McMaster (16-4) is led by OUA First Team All-Stars Heidi Bench (St. Catharines, Ont.) and Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, Ont.). Bench, who plays left side, was sixth in total kills with 185. Kaila Janssen (Oshawa, Ont.) and Sarah Kiernan (Hamilton, Ont.) were named Second Team All-Stars, and Shannon McRobert (Whitby, Ont.) was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Left side Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) was Toronto's lone First Team All-Star this season. She is one of OUA's top players with a league-high 265 kills this season, averaging 4.27 per set. Bansley was also second in service ace with 56. Teammate Kathleen Mahannah (Vancouver, B.C.) was named to the OUA Second Team.
The winner of the OUA championship advances to the Canadian Interuniversity Spot (CIS) Women's Volleyball Championship from Feb. 26 to 28 in Fredericton, N.B.
Fans can view all four games live via webcast on www.SSNCanada.ca. The games will also appear on Rogers TV York Region on tape delay. The semi-finals will air on Sat., Feb. 21 beginning at 8 p.m., while the Bronze Medal and OUA Final will go to air on Sun., Feb. 22 beginning at 7 p.m.
2008-09 OUA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
(Presented by Mikasa, Pizza Pizza and belairdirect./Hosted by York University)
Fri., Feb. 20
Semi-Finals
6 p.m. – Toronto vs. McMaster
8 p.m. – Western vs. York
Sat., Feb. 21
Bronze Medal Game
6 p.m. – Semi-Final Losing Teams
OUA Final
8 p.m. – Semi-Final Winning Teams
– 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.
