Gee-Gees wrap up regular season with two tilts in Thunder Bay

At Lakehead (8-8 OUA) Saturday, February 9, 2:00 p.m. (SSN Canada)

At Lakehead (8-8 OUA) Sunday, February 10, 2:00 p.m. (SSN Canada)

The uOttawa Gee-Gees women's volleyball team will wrap up its successful 2012-13 regular season campaign with two games against the Lakehead Thunderwolves this weekend. The Gee-Gees had a bye week last weekend, and are still ranked fourth in the CIS Top 10 poll, just 0.5 points behind the third-place Dalhousie Tigers. Ottawa is currently tied with the York Lions for first place in the OUA with identical 15-1 records, but since the Lions hold the tiebreaker over the Gee-Gees, Ottawa will require at least one loss from the Lions this weekend to have a shot at finishing in first.

"The hardest thing about the bye week at this time of the year is that we need to find a way to maintain a good focus and a good rhythm of play, and I'm really happy with how our team approached it. They've gotten some rest, taken care of school things, and the team feels like it's got a good atmosphere around it going into the final weekend," said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods.

Lakehead has been one of the most surprising teams in OUA women's volleyball this season, as the Thunderwolves finished dead last in the OUA last season with a 1-17 record. Lakehead has already clinched a playoff berth but can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth in Ontario, and may end up being Ottawa's first round playoff opponent-the Gee-Gees are guaranteed to finish in the top two in the OUA. This year marks the Thunderwolves' first playoff appearance since the 2005-06 season when they snuck into the postseason with a 7-12 record.

"Lakehead has always been a real fiery team. They have a right side player, Vanessa Chorkawy, who has been among the top point-getters in the OUA. She is a legitimate right side player-a left-handed kid who hits the ball hard. And the team around her is pretty balanced and they've done well. They play with a lot of confidence, especially at home, and I think it'll help both teams get ready for the playoffs," said Woods.

The Gee-Gees only faced the Thunderwolves once last season, when they earned a sweep victory against Lakehead at Montpetit Hall. Though the upcoming trip is the longest the Gee-Gees will make this season, Woods explained that he doesn't expect the long travel to be a major factor in the doubleheader.

"It's fortunate that we're flying there," said Woods with a laugh. "We're used to longer trips, like going to Toronto, and it's actually a bit of a retreat for us because we'll have some time together as a team and we'll use it to the best of our ability to get ready for the playoffs."