Red Deer, March 7, 2024 – While several teams remain in contention for national bronze, the Lakeland College Rustlers and Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners have qualified for the gold medal match at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball National Championship.

Match 5 - Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx 3, Blazers de la Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) 0

In the bronze quarter-final match, the Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx used a 30 assist performance from setter Anna Duboc-Ventura and picked up a three set win over the CMU Blazers (25-17, 25-17 and 25-14).

Duboc-Ventura distributed the ball to a variety of offensive targets. She connected with outside hitter Jade Genereux for 11 kills. Sandrine Methot added 10 kills, three assists and one of the Nordiques’ eight service aces. Emma Waskiewicz picked up nine kills for the Réseau du sport étudiant Québec (RSEQ) Champions.

The CMU Blazers were led offensively by second-year outside hitter Layla Reichert, who contributed 13 kills. Third-year libero Rachel Bartel had nine digs and one assist. First-year setter Chelsea Stewner accumulated 24 assists, two digs and one ace for the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) Champions.

Duboc-Ventura was named the 4imprint Nordiques Player of the Match. Along with her 30 assists, Duboc-Ventura had four service aces and three of the team’s seven blocks

Reichert earned the 4imprint Blazers Player of the Game. The five-foot-10 student-athlete added six digs to her offensive contributions. 

The Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx will play the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens in the bronze semi-finals on Friday, March 8 at 8 pm.

The CMU Blazers will compete against the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils in the placement match on Friday at 3 pm.

Match 6 - Blue Devils de UKC 3, Hawks de Humber 1

After dropping the opening set, the Humber Hawks won the next three and downed the UKC Blue Devils (22-25, 25-18, 25-10 and 25-19) in the bronze quarter-final. 

The Hawks were powered by fifth-year Te-Anna Stephenson’s 14 kills (0.297). Humber’s Cassidy Andrews contributed 13 kills (0.500) out of the middle for the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Champions. First-year setter Kennedy Williscroft had 40 assists and one of the Hawks’ seven service aces. 

Blue Devils’ third-year setter Claire Traynor (27 assists) connected with five-foot-10 outside hitter Maya Lees for a team-leading 12 kills. Frances Cooke added nine kills. Kaitlyn Legault chipped in with eight kills and two service aces for the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Champions.

Andrews received the 4imprint Hawks Player of the Match award. Lees was named the 4imprint Blue Devils Player of the Game. 

The Humber Hawks will challenge the Capilano Blues in the bronze semi-finals on Friday at 6 pm. 

The Blue Devils will face the CMU Blazers in the placement match on Friday at 3 pm.

Match 7 - Rustlers de Lakeland College 3, Blues de Capilano 0

The Lakeland College Rustlers have an opportunity to win back-to-back national titles. 

In the semi-finals, the Rustlers downed the Capilano Blues in three sets (25-13, 25-13 and 25-8). Fourth-year outside hitter Jenay Varga led the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Champions offensively with 15 kills (0.577). She also contributed nine digs and one of the Rustlers’ 10 service aces. Teammate Avery Bates, who is from Acme, Alberta, added nine kills. Fourth-year setter Jana Laing accumulated 33 assists, eight digs and three aces. 

Capilano’s third-year outside hitter Annika Kuznik led the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) wildcard squad with four kills. Blues’ fifth-year outside hitter Vanessa Gatto recorded three kills and six digs. Calgary’s Jayden Easingwood had 13 assists. Nnya Mbaoma contributed three kills, two of the team’s three blocks and one service ace. 

Varga was selected the 4imprint Rustlers Player of the Game.

Gatto was named the 4imprint Blues Player of the Match.

The Lakeland College Rustlers will face the VIU Mariners in the gold medal match on Saturday, March 9 at 8 pm.

The Capilano Blues will play the Humber Hawks in the bronze semi-finals on Friday at 6 pm.

Match 8 - Mariners de VIU 3, Queens de Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) 2

The VIU Mariners will meet the Lakeland College Rustlers in the gold medal match. 

In the semi-finals, the Mariners edged the RDP Queens in five sets (32-30, 25-21, 20-25, 21-25 and 15-10). 

The Mariners’ offence was powered by outside hitter Aimee Skinner. The first-year from Coldstream, BC, contributed 26 kills (0.320) and eight aces for the PACWEST Champions. Setter Linnea Brickwood had 54 assists. Third-year Grace Brisebois accumulated 12 kills for VIU.

Red Deer’s Emma Holmes led the Polytechnic with 13 kills. Both Rachel Perry and Lauren Junck contributed 12 kills for the hosts. Libero Francesca Sandini picked up 18 digs. 

Skinner was recognized as the 4imprint Mariners Player of the Game. 

Perry was named the 4imprint Queens Player of the Match.

The RDP Queens will play the Nordiques de Lionel-Groulx in the bronze semi-finals on Friday at 8 pm.

The VIU Mariners will compete for national gold on Saturday at 8 pm.

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