WVB National Championship: Day 2 Recap
Match 5: Briercrest Clippers - 3 vs. MSVU Mystics - 1
The Briercrest Clippers advanced to the bronze semi-final game at the CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship after defeating the MSVU Mystics three sets to one.
Both teams came out strong in the first set, but after the Clippers gained an early five-point lead, they didn’t look back and took the set 25-20. In the second set, MSVU was energized and grabbed an early 8-2 lead and ultimatley took the set 25-20. The third set was equally as close as the first two, but Briercrest won 25-20 after gaining a late lead. The Mystics jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set, but the Clippers marched back and took the contest 25-22.
Player of the Game for Briercrest was Mikayla Reinhardt, who filled the stat sheet with 12 kills and 14 digs to go along with two service aces. Taking home the honour for MSVU was Christina Day with seven kills as well as 11 digs.
Match 6: Holland Hurricanes - 3 vs. COTR Avalanche - 2
The Holland Hurricanes won a five set thriller over the College of the Rockies Avalanche to advance to the bronze semi-finals. After being down two sets to one, the Hurricanes rallied back, in front a full gym of fans, to win the match.
The Canes started off rough, struggling for much of the first set and ultimately dropping it 25-18 to COTR. Behind the support of the crowd though, the Hurricanes picked up their game in the second set, winning it 25-21. After the avalanche took the third set 25-22, they went up two to one in the match and the Canes had their backs to the wall for the fourth.
The Hurricanes thrived under the pressure and stormed back to easily take the set 25-15 and force a fifth and decisive set. In the final set it was back and forth, with neither team getting the upper hand. It stayed like this until the hometown fans began getting vocal for their girls, and from then on, the Hurricanes never looked back. They went on to win the set 15-10 and therefore the match, advancing to the bronze semi-final.
Kendra Dawkins was a beast at the net all match. She had eight kills and 12 digs and was named Player of the Game for the Hurricanes. For the Avalanche, it was Ari Benwell who took home Player of the Game with her 12 kills and six digs.
Match 7: VIU Mariners - 3 vs. Humber Hawks - 0
The Vancouver Island University Mariners advance to the CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship Final after defeating the second ranked Humber Hawks in three straight sets.
The Humber Hawks started the first set strong and, thanks to huge support from their fans in the crowd, took an early 11-4 lead. VIU rallied though and tied the game 22-22 before eventually taking the set 27-25. The Mariners kept the momentum going, cruising to a 25-17 second set win. The third set it was much of the same where the Mariners jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, toppling the Hawks in the final set 25-16.
Player of the Game for VIU was Andrea Canovic, and for Humber it was Brittany Vanderlaan. Canovic had eight kills, six digs and two service aces, while Vanderlaan had four digs and strong game as the team's lead setter.
Match 8: Élans de Garneau - 3 vs. The King's Eagles - 1
The top ranked Élans de Garneau advanced to the CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship game after defeating fifth ranked King’s Eagles. Les Élans were dominant throughout most of the match but needed four sets to win the semi-final game.
The first set was shaky for Garneauand the Eagles capitalized by taking an early lead and never looking back,winning the set 25-19. However, Garneau quickly learned from their mistakes, made some adjustments and took over the match. They came out in the second set and pulled ahead, with an early four point lead. After the Eagles closed the gap slightly, les Élans buckled down and finished them off, winning the set 25-17 to tie the match at one a piece.
Garneau took that momentum and used it in the third set, where they again held off a late comeback by the Eagles, winning the set 25-20. In the fourth set, Garneau built off an early three-point lead, before increasing that to 14 points and u;timately a 25-11 win for the match.
Player of the Game for les Élans was Noemie Daigneault, who had 16 kills, nine digs and an outstanding four service aces. Taking home the honour for the King’s Eagles was Keri Alcorn, who had a team leading 12 kills, 12 digs and three service aces.
Championship Day Preview
The host Holland Hurricanes kick off tomorrow’s action at 10 a.m. when they’ll play the second ranked Humber Hawks in the first of two bronze semi-final games. The second bronze semi-final comes at 12 p.m. and will feature the Briercrest Clippers and the King’s University Eagles. Following the two bronze semi-final games, they will be a placement game between the MSVU Mystics and the COTR Avalanche, which will take place at 2 p.m.
The teams that will compete for the Bronze medal have yet to be determined, but the game will take place at 6 p.m.
The CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship Final will take place at 8 p.m. and will feature les Élans de Garneau and the VIU Mariners.
All games will be played at the Holland College Centre for Engagement.
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