BLUES RALLY TO BEAT HAWKS
From the opening serve, it looked like it was going to be a long evening for the nation's ninth-ranked Varsity Blues (17-2, 1st OUA East). The Golden Hawks (13-6, 3rd OUA East) jumped out in front 7-0 and cruised to a 25-14 first set win behind four-kill efforts from middle Michelle Cook and right side hitter Kaitlin Sauder.
It was much of the same in Laurier's 25-15 second set win, before U of T settled in to claim the third 25-22, with first-team OUA all-star Asya Danilova burying the Varsity Blues' final three points of the set. That victory in the third stanza set U of T in motion, as they took command to claim the fourth 25-15 and the fifth and deciding set 15-7.
Danilova finished with a match-high 23 kills, with Danielle Walker leading Laurier with 18.
\"Laurier came out aggressive and were really sharp early,\" explained U of T head coach Kristine Drakich. \"We started to pass a little better in the third and you could feel the momentum shift. We closed the match very well and really showed our depth, but we need to be ready for a battle right from the start tomorrow.\"
After a slow start, U of T setter and OUA East rookie of the year Ali Greey played a phenomenal all-around match with 30 assists, eight digs and a team-high three block. Greey was named player of the game for the Varsity Blues, with Walker claiming that honour for the Golden Hawks.
In the nightcap, the upset streak of the Lancers (12-7, 4th OUA West) continued with an up-and-down 25-21, 26-24, 25-22 win over Ottawa (15-4, 2nd OUA East). In quarterfinal action last week, Windsor dumped the OUA's number-one seed, the Western Mustangs.
Despite an error filled first set for both teams, Windsor managed to jump ahead 14-7 early and hang on to claim set one and it was fourth-year right side Bethany Petkoff who finished the set with authority for the Lancers.
Neither team had more than a three-point advantage in the second set, but it was Ottawa who held a 24-22 lead and the serve. However, a Christina Bear kill, followed by back-to-back blocks by Bear and Brianna Binder put Windsor ahead. Once again, it was Petkoff giving the set to the Lancers 26-24.
The third stanza was also a battle, but it was Windsor who came up with the big plays late, breaking an 18-18 deadlock and taking the set 25-21 to earn the sweep.
\"We just did enough today,\" admitted Lancers head coach Marilyn Douglas. \"We got some key blocking and managed to bring our errors down as the match went on, but we're going to have to pass better against U of T.\"
Player of the game honours went to Windsor senior Caitlin Morrissey who had six kills and eight digs and Ottawa third-year setter Laura Simons, who had 26 assists and six digs. The Lancers' Petkoff had a match-high 14 kills, with Melissa Maddocks pacing the Gee-Gees with 13.
On Saturday, Ottawa and Laurier will battle for bronze at 6 p.m., with the hometown Varsity Blues going after their fifth conference title in the past six seasons against the upstart Lancers at 8 p.m. This is Windsor's first-ever trip to the OUA championship game.
In their only meeting this season, U of T won a hard-fought 3-2 match-up at Windsor on November 13, 2005.
(Source: Adrian Bradbury, Toronto Sports Information.)
(Photo: The Blues come together for a big block in Final Four action against Laurier.)