Hamilton, Ont - In the fifth and deciding set of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Final Four, University of Toronto fourth-year outside hitter, Karlee Diesing of Coquitlam, B.C. smashed four kills to lead the Varsity Blues to a 15-12 victory over the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in the semi-final match at McMaster University.

In fitting fashing, Diesing finished out the fifth set with a service ace that hit the net tape and fell between two Mustang defenders. Diesing finished the game with 13 kills and 21 digs and was named the Mikasa player of the match for Toronto.

The Varsity Blues, the first place team in the OUA East division with a 14-5 regular season record, will face the host McMaster Marauders (16-3), who topped the West division, in the OUA final tomorrow at the Burridge Gymnasum.

In the earlier match, the Marauders defeated the Queen's Gaels 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 18-25, 25-13) to advance to the OUA final for the fourth consecutive year.

In the first set, Toronto took a 8-6 lead into the first technical timeout. Western rallied to take a 16-15 advantage coming into the second technical timeout. Mustangs outside hitter, Elaine Screaton (Calgary, Alta) lauched three service aces to give Western a 22-17 lead late in the match before Western third-year middle blocker Sarah Johnston from Stratford, Ont. closed out the set with a tip over a Toronto blocker to give her squad the 20-25 victory.

The second set Toronto took the first point and never relinquished the lead earning a 25-20 win to even the match.

In set three, Western opened with a 9-15 lead but Toronto battled back to tie the score at 18-18 on the strength of two Karlee Diesing kills, and a Shannon Rossall (Calgary, Alta.) and Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) blocks. Toronto would outscore Western 7-3 to close out the match 25-21 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five contest.

In the fourth set, Toronto opened up with 6-2 lead, however, Western rallied to score five consecutive points to tied the game at seven coming into the first technical timeout. Toronto again surged, with OUA first team all-star Kristina Valjas of Toronto pounding out five kills to give the Varsity Blues a 16-13 edge coming into the second technical timeout.

Western again closed the gap to tie the score at 17-17. With the score knotted at 20-20, Western would score the next five points highlighted by two double blocks by Sarah Farrell (London, Ont.) and setter Sarah Lowry (Calgary, Alta.) to give Western the 20-25 victory.

Mustangs freshman and OUA West libero of the year Claire Morrow of London, Ont. was named the Mizuno player of the game for the Mustangs. Morrow had 17 digs for the Mustangs.

Western fourth-year setter and OUA West first team all-star Jenna Thompson (St. Mary's, Ont) finshed the match with 43 assists. Carleigh Whitaker (Sharon, Ont) had 15 kills and 21 digs. Elaine Screaton added 10 kills and 21 digs for the Mustangs.

Blues Valjas, an OUA first team all-star, had a game-high 17 kills. Fellow OUA first-teamer and fifth-year senior Heather Bansley added 15 kills and 22 digs.

The Mustangs will face the Gaels tomorrow in the bronze-medal game tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at the Burridge Gymnasium.

U of T will match up against the host Marauders in the gold-medal game tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the McMaster Athletics and Recreation website at http://www.marauders.ca

- Souce McMaster Sports Information -