OCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS BEGIN SATURDAY

The Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) Round of 16 matches have been set for women's volleyball, with eight elimination matches taking place this weekend.

The top eight teams in each division advance to the post-season and will compete in an inter-divisional crossover round based on seeding (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc.). Winners will advance to the quarter-finals next weekend. All matches in the opening two rounds will be hosted by the higher seeded team.

The final four surviving teams will advance to the OCAA championship to be hosted by the top remaining seed. The OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship will take place over a two-day span between Feb. 21-23.

Loyalist (5-13, 8th East) at Humber (18-0, 1st West)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 1 p.m.

In a rematch of last year's semi-final, the Humber Hawks will play host to the Loyalist Lancers in one of two meetings between regular season standings bookends.

The Hawks have won 45 straight OCAA-sanctioned matches, including regular and post-season, dating back to February, 2023. Humber also completed its second straight perfect regular season, having won four straight West Division championships.

If still not convinced about their dominance, consider that the Hawks have lost only four sets the entire regular season. Humber boasts a trio of players who are averaging 3.0 points per set or better, including fourth-year right side Hannah Manners (Toronto) who averaged 4.4 points during regular season competition.

The task is a tall one for the Lancers, having lost four straight to fall into eighth place in the East Division. Loyalist features fourth-year libero Erika Robertson (Uxbridge), who led the OCAA with 266 regular season digs. Loyalist played 72 regular season sets, the most in the OCAA.

To borrow a basketball term, the tiebreaker "possession arrow" points towards the West Division this year, putting the Humber Hawks in the pole position to host provincials if they win their next two.

Conestoga (7-11, 8th West) at Seneca (18-0, 1st East)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 1 p.m.

The Seneca Sting are OCAA's other undefeated team, running the table to clinch the East Division crown for a second straight season, dropping just a dozen sets in 18 matches.

Second-year player Mikyla Patras (Stony Plain, Alta.) led the Sting in several regular season statistical categories, tallying 270 points, 40 service aces and 229 kills for an average of 4.2, 0.63 and 3.58 per set, respectively. Patras also contributed 127 digs and 31 assists.

Although they finished eighth in the West Division, the Conestoga Condors also have a reliable offensive weapon. Third-year player Bianca Marchetti (Richmond Hill) led all OCAA players averaging 4.7 points and 0.94 service aces per set. Conestoga won their final two regular season matches.

As the top seed from the east, the Sting would be next in line to host provincials for a second straight season if Humber falters in the next two weeks.

George Brown (6-12, 7th East) at St. Clair (16-2, 2nd West)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 2 p.m.

The St. Clair Saints handled all but one of their West Division opponents with ease during the regular season. With the exception of two losses to Humber, St. Clair won every other match, losing just nine sets in the process.

The second-best in the west is led by Geneva Huisman (Amhertsburg). The third-year middle boasted a 4.3 points and 3.33 kills per set average during the regular season.

The George Brown Huskies won their first and last match of the regular season, but unfortunately suffered many losses in between.

The Huskies are led offensively by third-year outside hitter Kaarina Niemimaa (Pickering) who averaged a team-high 3.0 points and 2.37 kills per set.

Redeemer (8-10, 7th West) at Durham (14-4, 2nd East)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 1 p.m.

No matter what happens over the next three weeks, the Durham Lords will live to fight another day. As host of this year's nationals, Durham has already secured a spot at the tournament.

The Lords have an active streak of five straight trips to the OCAA semi-finals on the line, a feat only surpassed by Humber. Three of Durham's four regular season losses went five sets, including twice against undefeated Seneca.

Durham features a couple of players in first-year outside hitter Elizabeth McFarland (Courtice) and second-year middle Chelsea Oke (Brooklin) who averaged better than 3.0 points per set during the regular season.

The Redeemer Royals fell out of a log jam in the middle of the West Division standings with two straight losses to end their regular season. Third-year outside hitter Avery Surette (Barrie) led the Royals offensively in league competition averaging 3.1 points and 2.44 kills per set.

Mohawk (9-9, 6th West) at La Cité (13-5, 3rd East)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 1 p.m.

If there was an OCAA most improved team award based on record, it would go to La Cité Coyotes. The 'Yotes won seven more matches compared to last season, more than double their win total in 2023-24.

Coyotes fourth-year player Mélany Delisle (Gatineau, Que.) led all OCAA liberos averaging 4.46 digs per set while third-year outside hitter Natasha Grenier (Ottawa) was No. 1 in the league with 57 total service aces. Fourth-year outside hitter Akemi Boudreau (Beresford, N.B.) was also an OCAA stats leader averaging 3.79 kills per set against east opponents.

After a 7-0 start to the regular season, the Mohawk Mountaineers will make the trek east having lost nine of their last 11 matches.

First-year outside hitter Olivia Rosewell (Hamilton) and second-year right side Thea Spasic (Ancaster) have both averaged better than 3.0 points per set for the Mountaineers.

Centennial (11-7, 5th East) at Fanshawe (9-9, 4th West)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 1 p.m.

The Fanshawe Falcons also made a swing in the positive direction in 2024-25, winning five more matches than the previous season and earning a home playoff match.

Third-year outside hitter Grace McLean (Dorchester) was the Falcons offensive leader during the regular season with 177 points and 137 kills.

The Centennial Colts ended their regular season on a winning note taking two straight. Despite a better regular season record than Fanshawe, the Colts have to go on the road as a No. 5 seed.

Centennial fourth-year outside hitter CL Viloria (Richmond Hill) led all OCAA student-athletes with 233 kills and 296 points during the regular season.

Cambrian (9-9, 5th West) at Algonquin (12-6, 4th East)
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 2 p.m.

The Algonquin Wolves will host the second of two crossovers in our nation's capital on Saturday. Similar to their cross-town rival Coyotes, the Wolves won three more matches compared to last season.

First-year left side Carys Tenthorey (Ottawa) and fourth-year right side Natasha Lauzon (London) averaged better than 3.0 points per set for the Wolves during regular season action.

The Cambrian Shield were one of three teams with even win-loss records in the West Division. The Shield are a tough out, however, as four of their losses came in five sets.

Cambrian second-year setter Allison Nordquist (Sudbury) led all OCAA players with 537 assists.

Canadore (9-9, 6th East) at Niagara (12-6, 3rd West)
Sunday, Feb. 9 - 1 p.m.

The lone match on Super Sunday takes place in Welland where the Niagara Knights host the Canadore Panthers.

Having won seven of their last 10 regular season matches, the Knights feature second-year middle Sam Cormier (St. Catharines), who was No. 1 in the OCAA with 60 stuff blocks, averaging 1.11 per set.

The Canadore Panthers won their final three matches to finish the regular season at .500.

Second-year outside hitter Elise Churman (New Liskeard) led the Panthers in offence during the regular season averaging 3.2 points and 2.35 kills per set.

- OCAA -

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