Cougar women at CCAA championships

Story courtesy the CCAA:

The second match of the CCAA Women’s National Championship tournament featured third favourite and Alberta champions Mount Royal University Cougars, against 6th seeded and Ontario champions Humber College Hawks. The first set demonstrated that both teams were able to attack explosively, make sensational defensive plays and play with finesse at the net.

The Cougars, a very tall team, was able to offer quite a show to the spectators present at the game, multiplying kills and powerful blocks. At 14-9, the Hawks called a timeout to stop the momentum that was strengthening for the Cougars with each passing point.

This did not work immediately, but the Hawks were able to string together some points, making the game close between the two squads.In the end, the powerful attacks of left side hitter Andrea Price and middle Julia Pasieka proved too much to handle for the Hawks, who lost the first set 25-20.

The second started with a few ferocious kills from reigning CCAA player of the year Landis Doyle of Humber College. Her teammates did not cooperate at the early part of set, missing two key serves. At 15-9, Coach Chris Wilkins substituted in Naomi Fukudome, who became the new setter on the court. This decision did not pay off early, as the Cougars strung together a few points and forced Wilkins into using a timeout at 17-10.

Throughout the set, Mackenzie Allen was able to get service receptions on the nose from her teammates, allowing her to vary the sets she was dishing back to them. The end of the set was marked by four consecutive missed serves by both teams, which allowed the Cougars to keep siding out and maintaining the lead they held since the beginning of the set. The final score was for the Cougars.

The third set saw Humber playing with a lot more emotion and determination, storming out to a 3-1 lead. At 3-2, Coach Wilkins was infuriated at a non-touch call at the net, which allowed the Cougars to tie the set at 3-all. Nevertheless, Mount Royal missed their serve, and Humber reclaimed the momentum swing for a few points, punctuated by strong attacking from Doyle and smart plays at the net from right side hitter Michelle Overzet.

Andrea Price continued her strong hitting from both the left side and the right side of the court for the Cougars, but the Hawks managed to get a few blocks, allowing them to keep their lead. After changing setters for a few points, the Cougars went back to Allen to continue the third set, paying immediate dividends.

With their lead down to 1 point at 14-13, Coach Wilkins called a timeout to rally his troops. This proved to be a wise decision for Wilkins, as tough serving from Lindsay Ballance allowed her team to take a 4-point lead. Price once again led her team in the late stages of the set, this time from the right side of the court, but it was too late. Hawks took the third set 25-22.

The Cougars took a 4-1 lead right from the start of the 4th set, and never let up. Akin to the first three sets, the story of the match continued to be spectacular sets from Allen to her prize target of the night, Andrea Price. The Hawks offered a comeback near the end of the set, pushing Mount Royal coach Sandra Lamb to call a timeout at 20-15.

After this break, Humber was not able to keep their stride going. The Hawks were simply not in the mix for the majority of this 4th and deciding set, multiplying communication errors and hits in the net. The match ended with another thunderous hit from Andrea Price, with this set ending 25-19 for the Cougars. Mount Royal finds itself in the semi-finals against FX-Garneau tomorrow night, while Humber will now play the Mounties of Mt. Allison.

Player of the match for the Hawks was Landis Doyle, author of 14 kills and only 3 hitting errors. For the Cougars, that honour went to Andrea Price, with 14 kills and 10 digs.

With the win the Couars now advance to Friday's semi-final versus the FX Garneau Élans who entered the tournament as the number two seed. The Élans defeated the Mount Allison Mounties in straight sets 25-12, 25-12 and 25-9.

Find the CCAA championship site here: http://www.ccaawomensvolleyball2011.ca/

Or watch live game footage: http://www.ccaawomensvolleyball2011.ca/index.php/en/live-video

The 2010-11 CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships take place in Saint John. New Brunswick March 10-12th.