Semifinal 1: Alberta upsets #1 seed Manitoba in five sets, secures ticket to gold medal match
The Alberta Pandas will play for national gold on Sunday in the hopes of securing an eighth national title and first since 2007. U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, Abby Guezen, and Lauryn Tremblay each tallied double-digit kills during Alberta’s 3-2 victory (25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 18-16) over Manitoba on Saturday in the semifinal matchup at the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship at Burridge Gymnasium.
Guezen finished with 33 kills on 64 total attacks for a .406 percentage and had two service aces while Tremblay added 12 kills. Setter, Justine Kolody, recorded 55 assists and contributed eight digs.
Kareena Bentley quarterbacked the Bison squad with 52 assists in the losing cause.
The two teams combined for 128 kills, 122 assists and 11 service aces.
With the win, Alberta advances to play the winner of Acadia and UBC on Sunday March 17 at 6pm ET in the gold medal match. The Bisons will take on the loser in the bronze medal game at 2pm on Sunday.
Mikasa Players of the Game:
- Alberta Pandas: Abby Guezen
- Manitoba Bisons: Raya Surinx
Semifinal 2: UBC sweeps Acadia, books ticket to gold medal match
Akash Grewal tallied 13 kills for an impressive .579 percentage in the UBC Thunderbirds’ dominant 3-0 (25-16, 25-8, 25-21) win over the Acadia Axewomen on Saturday in their semifinal match at the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship in Burridge Gymnasium. UBC will look to defend its national title on Sunday.
Issy Robertshaw, a second-year setter, recorded 29 assists and tallied one service ace. Teammates Kacey Jost and Erika Vermette contributed a team high 11 digs each throughout the contest.
Axewoman Alexia Lemay-Evans totaled six kills and two service aces in the loss while Charlotte Dean recorded 17 assists for Acadia.
The Thunderbirds were dominant on the offense with 37 kills to the Axewomen’s 21.
UBC has earned a berth to the gold medal game and will face the Alberta Pandas on Sunday March 17 at 6pm ET. Acadia will meet the Manitoba Bisons in the bronze medal game with first serve set for 2pm on Sunday.
Mikasa Players of the Game:
- Acadia Axewomen: Jenna Lake
- UBC Thunderbirds: Akash Grewal
Saint Mary’s advances to consolation final with win over Montréal
A second-year left side, Emilia Mikanovich was dominant at the net, putting down 15 kills in Saint Mary’s 3-1 (27-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23) victory over the Montréal Carabins in the first consolation semifinal on Day 2 of the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship in Burridge Gymnasium.
Saint Mary’s claimed the match’s opening set but needed extra points to do so, taking Set #1 27-25. The Huskies earned the victory in Set 2 but Montréal extended the game with a 25-21 final in the third set. The Carabins kept things close in the fourth set, but it was the #8 seed that earned the win.
Olivia Bell, the 2024 AUS Player of the Year and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, was the other Husky with double digit kills, recording 11 on 34 total attacks.
Second-year setter, Taylor Lougheed, totaled 36 assists and five digs to lead the Huskies and secure the win. Morgan Hoskins and Olivia Bell racked up a combined 28 digs for Saint Mary’s.
Olympe Desmedt, an outside hitter for Montréal, recorded 16 kills and 12 digs in the loss.
The win sends Saint Mary’s to the consolation final on Sunday March 17th at 2pm ET where they will face the winner of the Brock – McMaster match. The loss knocks the Carabins out of this year’s U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship.
Mikasa Players of the Game:
- SMU Huskies: Emilia Mikanovich
- Montréal Carabins: Myriam Kayser-Tourigny
Host McMaster takes down OUA Champion Brock Badgers in straight sets, move on to consolation final
Sullie Sundara and Olivia Julien registered a combined 25 kills to help the Marauders advance to the consolation final. McMaster downed the OUA Champion Brock Badgers in a three-set sweep (27-25, 25-11, 25-13) in the second consolation semifinal at the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship at Burridge Gymnasium.
The Marauders battled it out in Set #1 and escaped with a 27-25 victory. From there, the hosts cruised to a fourteen-point victory in Set #2. The Marauders continued their momentum and sealed the victory with a strong 25-13 third set.
Third-year setter, Chayse Victoria, had her best game of the season, recording 25 assists, one service ace and seven digs for the Marauders. Ellie Hatashita led all players with four solo blocks. Despite the loss, Brock had two players who recorded double digit digs – Laurin Ainsworth and Emily Foest.
McMaster recorded a .297 hitting percentage while Brock posted a percentage of .132.
The victory sends the Marauders to the consolation final on Sunday March 17th at 12pm ET where they will face the Saint Mary’s Huskies. The loss brings the Badgers’ national championship to an end.
Mikasa Players of the Game:
- Brock Badgers: Laurin Ainsworth
- McMaster Marauders: Chayse Victoria
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