CAMBRIAN 3, REDEEMER 2

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - In the first of two bronze medal semi-finals at the OCAA Women's Volleyball Championships at Trent University, the Cambrian Golden Shield defeated the Redeemer Royals in an exciting five sets.

Redeemer claimed the first set by a score of 25-20 but Cambrian bounced back taking the next two sets 25-16 and 25-11. Redeemer wasn't done yet though as they took the fourth set 25-17 forcing a fifth and deciding set. In the final set, Cambrian showed their strength as they took the set 15-9 securing a place in the bronze medal final Saturday at 2 p.m.

Both teams came out in the first set ready to play. Redeemer and Cambrian were neck and neck through the first 12 points. A set of key defensive plays from Redeemer's Kimberly Stewart (Hope, B.C.) helped her team create some separation. Redeemer held on at the end to take to set 25-20 and grab a 1-0 match lead. April Passchier (Kitchener, Ont.) led the Royals attack with three kills.

Cambrian came out fired up for the second set. Kelsey Fielding (Sudbury, Ont.) led the charge for the Golden Shield with a number of kills and defensive plays. Cambrian got off to an early lead and did not look back. Despite a solid effort by Redeemer, they were unable to close the gap. Kristy Ballantyne (Kapuskasing, Ont.) finished off the set with a huge block winning the set 25-16 and evening that match at 1-1.

The third set had Cambrian jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Redeemer put up a strong effort to try and close the initial gap but Cambrian's defence was solid as they took a 9-3 into a Redeemer timeout. After the timeout, Emilie Lavoie (Sudbury, Ont.) provided some tough serves for the Golden Shield as they extended their lead to 14-4. Redeemer fought to stay in the set but could not erase the deficit as Cambrian pressed on to a 22-9 lead late in the set. The point gap proved to be too much for Redeemer in the end as Cambrian took the set 25-11 and grabbed a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set began with Redeemer setting the pace getting out to an early 8-3 forcing a Cambrian timeout. Both teams exchanged points coming out of the timeout with Cambrian closing the gap to 9-11 before Redeemer decided to take a timeout. Following the timeout, the Royals came out firing extending their lead again to 19-12. Cambrian attempted to get back into the set late but ended up falling short as Redeemer took the set 25-17 and tied the match at 2-2 forcing a deciding fifth set.

The fifth and final set began with both teams going point-for-point until Redeemer grabbed a three-point lead at 5-2. Cambrian managed to tie things up at 6-6 and edged ahead to 8-6 at the halfway point. Cambrian maintained their lead after the break moving forward to 12-8 late in the set. They match concluded with Shawna Metcalf (Azilda, Ont.) picking up two aces in the final three points as Cambrian won the set 15-9 and the match 3-2.

Player of the Game for the winning Cambrian Golden Shield was Lavoie with 11 kills, three aces and one block in the match. Curtiss Straatsma (Brampton, Ont.) took Player of the Game honours for the Royals with 13 kills and four blocks.

With the loss, Redeemer is now eliminated from the championship. Cambrian will face the winner of the Fanshawe-Georgian match in the bronze medal final later Saturday at 2 p.m.

Source: Trent University