The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team won an outstanding match, 3-1 (14-25, 25-10, 25-18, 25-19), over the defending OUA champions York Lions on Saturday, November 14 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. 

English and linguistics student Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) was the high scorer for the Blues with 14 kills and 25 digs and was named the Varsity Blues player of the game. 

The Blues got off to a rough start as the Lions took an early lead in the first set. Natasha Khan (Toronto) and Laura Scull (St. Catharines, Ont.) stuck some nice kills past Toronto’s front line and maintained their advantage throughout the rest of the game, taking the first one 25-14. 

Toronto turned things around in the second set, allowing only 10 points by their opponents. Bansley and Lauren Willoughby (Unionville, Ont.) stepped up their game and widened the gap, while Shannon Rossall (Calgary, Alta.) knocked down an impressive kill to end the set 25-10. 

The third was a back and fourth game, with nine ties. Lions middle Kristina Vlcek (Toronto, Ont.) put the pressure on the Blues, but Bansley, Rossall and Kathleen Mahannah (North Vancouver, B.C.) shut down the Lions attack, stretching its lead and closing out the game 25-18. 

The fourth and final set started out tight but the Blues took the advantage of miscues and broke the game open halfway through, only to continue to widen the gap, ending the game (25-19). 

Shannon Rossall (Calgary, Alta.) tallied eight kills and four digs, while Alexandra Hudson (Mississauga, Ont.) landed six kills and five digs, accounting for the Blues’ other tallies. 

For the Lions, the high scorers were Thinesa Sriskandarajah (Scarborough, Ont.), who was also named their player of the game, with 15 kills and 16 digs and Kristina Vlcek (Toronto.) was added 13 kills and 10 digs. 

The Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team are next scheduled to hit the court on Friday, November 20th at Queen’s University. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. 

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.