EDMONTON – In a five-set thriller, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues kept their composure and came back in the fifth and deciding set to upset the No. 2 Montreal Carabins 3-2 (26-24, 25-22, 24-26, 22-25, 16-14) in the second consolation semifinal at the University of Alberta’s Main Gym.
Toronto moves on the consolation final where they will face the No. 4 Regina Cougars Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. (MST), while the previously undefeated Carabins bow out 0-2.
Two-time all-Canadian Heather Bansley paced the Blues for the second straight contest with a game-high 24 kills and was a major force down the stretch. The Waterdown, Ont. native and OUA player of the year led CIS this season in kills, as well as in service aces and points per match and was instrumental in the come-from-behind fifth-set win.
Toronto’s player of the game Kathleen Mahannah of North Vancouver, B.C. had 45 assists, two key service aces and eight digs, while second-year middle Shannon Rossall came up with two timely service aces to pull Toronto to 13-14 and then give her team the lead 15-14 before serving up the game-winner.
Carabins Laetitia Tchoualack (Paris, France) led her team with 18 kills and was instrumental Montreal’s big fourth set to even things up at two games apiece. The two-time CIS player of the year also had 23 digs to lead all players. Rookie Sophie Bergeron-Leblanc added 11 kills and nine digs in the loss.
“Oh boy, did she ever play well today,” gushed Toronto head coach Kristine Drakich, now in her 21st season along the Varsity Blue sideline.
“I mean, she did it all for us; attacked well, aces, defended well, and just led us when we needed to be led. It was such a big effort from her, and I’m really proud of her and the whole team’s performance. It’s never easy to win at these tournaments after losing the first game, but they delivered even when faced with adversity today.”
In Saturday’s consolation final, Toronto looked like they might sweep the Quebec champions in straight sets, after jumping out to a 2-0 lead.
The two teams were close through the opening set’s first 16 points, with Montreal leading at the second technical timeout by just one point
But, from there, Toronto went on an 8-2 run to lead 23-17, only to see the Carabins climb back to within one point. Bansley helped end the first set for her Blues, winning 26-24.
After Toronto took the second set 25-22, Montreal started the third with a 3-0 lead, and another one-point second technical timeout advantage.
Toronto then jumped up 18-16, and then 20-17, before Montreal tied it at 21. They then swapped leads back and forth, with eventually les Carabins winning their first set of the tournament, 26-24.
Bansley spun two aces to pace the Blues to a 4-1 fourth set lead, but Tchoualack woke up and pounded away on the Toronto defence, powering her side to a 25-22 win and a tie match score.
In the fifth, Montreal was teetering on the edge of victory leading 14-10, but was stunned as Toronto rolled off six straight points to snatch the win from the jaws of defeat.
“You never know how much character your team has until you’re faced with a situation where you have to prove it, and today, they did,” said Drakich.
“We wanted to play a Sunday match, and now we are. It was important to us to play tomorrow, we have five graduating players that all wanted to play three matches this weekend, and because of the effort today, we will.”
NOTES: The two teams had played two previous times at CIS championships in the past, with each team winning one match... The Varsity Blues won 3-2 in the fifth-place game at the 2004 championship... But the last time the teams were in Edmonton together, at the ’99 championship, the Carabins posted a 3-2 win in the consolation semi-final.
