TRENT HOSTS OCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. plays host to the 2013 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Volleyball Championship, beginning Thursday and running through Saturday.

Eight teams will vie for the OCAA title, including the host Trent Excalibur and five-time defending champion Humber Hawks.

A total of 12 matches will be played in a span of three days. Following the OCAA awards banquet at the Champlain College at 8:30 a.m., the OCAA quarter-finals will take place on Thursday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Losing teams will compete in the bronze medal quarter-finals on Friday, followed by the OCAA semi-final matches. The bronze medal semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday leading into the OCAA gold medal match.

Fans who are unable to attend the matches live can follow the proceedings via webcast. Visit the championship website for further information.

The OCAA champion advances to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Volleyball National Championship, taking place in Lloydminster, Alta. next month.

Here is a look at the OCAA quarter-finalists:

Cambrian Golden Shield (17-3, 2nd East)

Cambrian may have fell short of a three-peat in the OCAA East, but it is the title awarded on Saturday that is the most important to the Golden Shield.

Once again, fifth-year left side Shawna Metcalf (Azilda) was near the top of the OCAA leaderboard this season averaging 5.0 points per set, including an OCAA regular season record 270 kills (the old record of 259 was previously set by Metcalf in 2009-10). In addition, Metcalf is the OCAA career leader with 960 kills and 1,239 points.

Cambrian has won 11 of its last 12 games, as it looks to live up to its nickname this week. It was the Cambrian "Silver" Shield last season, losing to Humber in straight sets in the gold medal match.

Cambrian last won gold in 2005. The Golden Shield face Fanshawe in Thursday's quarter-final. These teams met in the semi-finals last year, with Cambrian prevailing 3-1.

Durham Lords (18-2, 1st East)

The Durham Lords won their first OCAA East region title in three years, quite a turnaround from last season's 7-13 record.

Third-year left side Leah Saar (Pickering) led the way for the Lords, averaging 3.6 points per set, including 212 kills.

Although its 16-game win streak was snapped by Cambrian earlier this month, Durham finished the regular season on a winning note as the Lords look to build a win streak in the post-season. Durham has not finished a season with an OCAA medal since bronze in 2005.

Durham faces Redeemer in the quarter-finals.

Fanshawe Falcons (15-3, 3rd West)

The Fanshawe Falcons barely missed out on an OCAA medal last season, dropping the bronze medal match to division rival Nipissing in four sets. Fanshawe was awarded bronze in 2011.

This year Fanshawe enters the championship having won seven straight, including a 3-1 win over Loyalist to secure a berth at this year's championship.

Third-year middle Stephanie Bignell (Drayton) led the Falcons averaging 3.6 points per set. She led the OCAA with 52 blocks.

Fanshawe faces Cambrian in the OCAA quarter-finals.

Georgian Grizzlies (15-5, 3rd East)

The Georgian Grizzlies have only won one OCAA medal in their history, winning gold in 1983. With back-to-back third place finishes, the Grizzlies look poised to end their 30-year medal drought.

Fourth-year player Natalie Buck (Keswick) led Georgian with 190 kills and 261 points, averaging 3.3 points per set.

Three of Georgian's five losses this season went to five sets. The Grizzlies have won five of their last six games, including a 3-1 win over Sheridan to clinch a spot at this year's championship.

Georgian lost to Fanshawe 3-1 in the quarter-finals last year. The Grizzlies face Nipissing in this year's quarters.

Humber Hawks (18-0, 1st West)

Humber ran the table for the second straight regular season, as the Hawks now focus on an OCAA six-peat.

Fourth-year middle Kelly Nyhof (Georgetown) led all OCAA players averaging 5.3 points per set totaling 274 points. She was one kill shy of an even 200.

The Hawks have been efficient in their victories, being taken to five sets just two times. They lost just five sets the entire season.

Humber opens defence of its OCAA title against host Trent in the quarter-finals.

Nipissing Lakers (15-3, 2nd West)

This championship marks an end of an era for the Nipissing Lakers as they join Ontario University Athletics for the 2013-14 season.

Nipissing has been one of the OCAA's top women's volleyball programs, winning medals in each of the last seven championships. Before last season's bronze medal, Nipissing faced Humber in the gold medal match for six straight seasons, winning in 2007. These teams could be on one last collision course this season.

Second-year outside Brittany Ardron (Lakefield) leads the Lakers averaging 3.3 points per set, including 117 kills.

Nipissing takes on Georgian in its quarter-final match-up. Nipissing defeated Georgian in straight sets in a bronze medal semi-final last year.

Redeemer Royals (9-9, 4th West)

The Redeemer Royals had its ups and downs during the regular season, but a five-set loss to undefeated Humber seemed to give the team the momentum it needed.

Redeemer has won three straight, including a 3-1 win over Algonquin to secure its berth at the OCAA championship. Redeemer's .500 regular season record is an improvement of their 6-12 mark last season.

Second-year right side Curtiss Straatsma (Brampton) is the offensive leader on the Royals, averaging 4.8 points per set. She led all OCAA West players with 235 kills and 310 points.

Redeemer takes on Durham in the quarter-finals. The Royals have never won an OCAA medal in women's volleyball.

Trent Excalibur (15-5, 4th West)

Host Trent had a strong first half of the regular season going 9-1. Four losses in the second half may be a concern for the Excalibur, but they do boast a 8-2 home record which they hope to use to their advantage.

Fourth-year left side Rebecca van Staalduinen (Peterborough) led the Excalibur with a 3.5 points per set average, including 177 kills.

Similar to Redeemer, Trent has never won an OCAA medal in women's volleyball.

Trent lost both matches at the OCAA championship last season. The Excalibur face Humber for the second straight year in the quarter-finals. Humber won last year's meeting in three sets.

OCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Championship Website: www.trentu.ca/athletics/ocaachampswvb.php

Thursday, February 21
OCAA Awards Banquet - Great Hall, Champlain College - 8:30 a.m.
Quarter-Finals
Game 1 - Georgian vs. Nipissing - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - Redeemer vs. Durham - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Trent vs. Humber - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - Fanshawe vs. Cambrian - 8 p.m.            

Friday, February 22
Bronze Quarter-Finals
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 23
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 - 9 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5 - 11 a.m.
Bronze Medal Match
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 2 p.m.
Gold Medal Match
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 4 p.m.

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com