OCAA volleyball preview

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

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Women's Volleyball Preview 2007-2008

WEST REGION

Fanshawe College

2006-2007 Regular Season Record: 10-5 2006-2007 Playoff Record: Lost to Cambrian in a Qualifier Championships Won: 4 (‘68, ‘69, ‘71, ’72)

The Fanshawe Falcons enter the 2007 regular season on a high note as they finished in second place at the Mohawk Mountaineers Kick-Off Invitational tournament in late September. It was apparent that Fanshawe will be in the running for the West Region title once again.

Middle Katie Seys is back for another season with the Falcons. Seys is a two-time first team all-star and has finished second in scoring in the West Region in both her years in the OCAA. She was also name Rookie of the Year in 2006. Look for Seys to climb to the top of the scoring ladder as she has improved every season throughout her colligate career.

Joining Seys on the court will be Danielle Olive. Olive made an impressive 2007 debut as she was honoured as a tournament all-star in Hamilton.

Fanshawe last won the West Region title in 2005-06, which also marked their last appearance at the OCAA Championship. The Falcons will be playing host to the 2007-08 OCAA Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Championships from February 21-23.

Lambton College

2006-2007 Regular Season Record: 3-12 2006-2007 Playoff Record: DNQ Championships Won: 0

The Lambton Lions are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2006-07 season with a new attitude in 2007. The Lions will be looking to move up the OCAA standings and become a more competitive team in the West Region this season.

Head coach Barb Rigg-Garbaty returns for another season as the Lions bench boss and is once again expecting a strong work ethic and aims for consistent improvement with the goal of reaching the playoffs.

Lambton’s women’s volleyball has struggled over the past decade as their last winning season and Championship appearance was in 1998-99 when the team went 8-4 and finished seventh overall. Fans of college volleyball in Sarnia are hoping that 2007-08 will be the year of the Leos!

Niagara College

2006-2007 Regular Season Record: 11-4 2006-2007 Playoff Record: 1-2 (T-5th) Championships Won: 1 (’70)

The Niagara Knights won the West Region title last season earning an automatic berth into the OCAA Championship tournament. The Knights were up and down during the three day championship defeating Algonquin 3-0, then exiting with a pair of losses to the Humber Hawks and Mohawk Mountaineers.

Head coach Kerby Bentley hopes his Knights squad can make it to the top of the West Region standings once again. The Knights will have to rely on some new talent joining the lineup for point production as West Region leading scoring Heidi Bench has left Niagara College. Last year’s lineup featured eight rookies and it seems that coach Bentley will turn to them to make up for the loss during their sophomore seasons.

During the regular season in 2006-07, the Knights broke the OCAA single season mark for serving aces with 162 this season.

Redeemer University College

2006-2007 Regular Season Record: 10-5 2006-2007 Playoff Record: 1-2 (T-7th) Championships Won: 0

In 2006-07, the Redeemer Royals of Ancaster finished the year with a 10-5 record and put an end to Georgian’s dream of qualifying for the OCAA championship as they defeated the host Grizzlies 3-2 in a qualifying match-up. With another year of experience under their belt, the Royals will look to return to the OCAA Championship and win their first provincial medal in women’s volleyball.

Chris Wiersma will lead the Royals once again and hopes that a roster that featured six freshmen last season will be able to use the experience they gained last season and turn it into their fourth consecutive winning season. The Royals will also rely on their home-court advantage all-season long. Redeemer’s gym is considered by many as the toughest place to play in the OCAA because of the energy, passion and intensity Royal’s fans bring to every game.

St. Clair College

2006-2007 Regular Season Record: 6-9 2006-2007 Playoff Record: DNQ Championships Won: 1 (’97)

The St. Clair Saints come marching into the 2007-08 on a hot streak after positing four consecutive wins to close up the 2006-07 season. The Saints will hope to build off the momentum from last season and make their first championship appearance since 2000-01.

The Saints showed a lot of progress in the last two seasons after posting a 1-14 record in 2004-05. Last season they had a solid recruiting class with rookie right side Jillian Johnson, left side Trisa Whaley and middle Samantha Bueckert featured as offensive standouts. St. Clair’s is hoping to increase their win total from last season (6-9) and qualify for the post season.

Sault College

2006-2007 Regular Season Record: 0-15 2006-2007 Playoff Record: DNQ Championships Won: 0

In 2006-07, the Sault Cougars featured a new coaching staff including Head Coach Karen Hall. The Cougars struggled to find consistent play from their squad as they went 0-15, finishing with the second lowest point total in the OCAA.

2007-08 already looks brighter for the Cougars, as Hall has brought in a solid recruiting class, to go along with the mix with the veterans from last season. Katrina Zantinge led the Cougars in scoring last season, averaging 2.00 PPG while appearing in 11 matches for the Cougars.

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