Photo credit Martin Bazyl
TORONTO (CIS) – The seventh seeded Ottawa Gee-Gees notched a 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-21) win over the AUS champion Dalhousie Tigers to book their ticket in Sunday’s consolation final as Day 2 of the 2015 CIS women’s volleyball championship, presented by Canuck Stuff, wrapped up Friday afternoon at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
The win marks Ottawa’s first at the national tournament since a 3-0 quarter-final victory in 2013. The Gee-Gees will meet the Canada West bronze medalist UBC Thunderbirds, who topped Laval 3-0 in the first game of the day, in a battle for fifth place at 11:30 a.m., Sunday.
Two-time CIS first team all-Canadian Myriam English of Orleans, Ont., recorded a game-high 11 kills, while adding 10 digs on the day. Sophomore left side Kaly Soro (Ottawa) added seven kills, nine digs and one block and earned player of the match honours.
“Kaly was on rhythm,” said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods. “She had some great reads in the back row, was constantly moving and she put away every ball that she had an opportunity to put away. I thought Kaly and Myriam were solid on the left side and consistent all game.”
Gee-Gees setter Kira Tome tallied 32 assists and five digs, while libero Stephanie Theiler added a team-high 13 digs in the victory.
“The match had different tempos to it,” added Woods. “As it slowed down our feet slowed down, but I don`t think our enthusiasm or attitude did. When we took care of the first contact, we sped it up and were able to do what we wanted to do.”
Second-year left side hitter Anna Dunn-Suen led the Tigers with eight kills and 12 digs, with 2015 CIS all-rookie team member Mieke Dumont adding six kills. Third-year libero Marisa Mota notched a game-high 15 digs and was named the Tigers player of the match.
“If you look on the court, we started two first years and a second year as outside hitters at a national championship,” said Dalhousie head coach Rick Scott. “We played a very good, veteran team in Ottawa. It takes time but we really improved throughout the year and it was great to win a hard-fought AUS championship. It’s a great learning experience and we’ll take a lot from this.”
Ottawa got out to a 13-3 lead in the first and were up 16-5 at the technical time out. The Gee-Gees cruised to the first set win as a Kelsie English kill capped it off, 25-11.
Dalhousie rallied and kept the second close in the early goings, but the Gee-Gees still took a 16-9 at the break. The Tigers brought the set within four, but that was as close as they’d come as the Gee-Gees built a 2-0 match lead with the 25-20 win.
The Tigers were much stronger to start the third, gaining a 6-2 lead; however, Ottawa came back and were up 16-11 at the technical timeout. Dalhousie kept pace, but could not complete the comeback as the Gee-Gees took this one 25-21 with a final kill from Alix Durivage.
STAT LEADERS
Ottawa
Kills: Myriam English (11), Kaly Soro (7)
Points: Myriam English (13), Sophie Chenail (9.5)
Blocks: Myriam English (1), Kaly Soro (1), Sophie Chenail (1)
Digs: Stephanie Theiler (13)
Service aces: Kelsie English (2), Alix Durivage (2), Kira Tome (2),
Sophie Chenail (2)
Player of the match: Kaly Soro
Dalhousie
Kills: Anna Dunn-Suen (8), Mieke Dumont (6)
Points: Anna Dunn-Suen (8.5), Mieke Dumont (6)
Blocks: Jessica Josenhans (3)
Digs: Marisa Mota (15)
Service aces: Abby Czenze (1), Elizabeth Wright (1)
Player of the match: Marisa Mota
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Thursday, February 26
13:00 Quarter-final #1: No. 4 Montreal 3, No. 5 UBC 0
(25-22, 25-18, 25-16)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: No. 1 Trinity Western 3, No. 8 Laval 2
(24-26, 24-26, 25-15, 25-16, 15-8)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 3 Toronto 3, No. 6 Dalhousie 0 (25-10,
25-19, 25-6)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 2 Alberta 3, No. 7 Ottawa 0 (25-23,
25-21, 25-18)
Friday, February 27
11:30 Consolation #1: UBC 3, Laval 0 (25-12, 25-21,
33-31)
13:30 Consolation #2: Ottawa 3, Dalhousie 0 (25-11, 25-20,
25-21)
Saturday, February 28
14:00 Semifinal #1: Montreal vs. Trinity Western (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
16:00 Semifinal #2: Toronto vs. Alberta (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Sunday, March 1
11:30 5th place: Ottawa vs UBC (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
14:00 Bronze medal (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
17:00 Championship final (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
