The No. 2 nationally ranked University of Toronto women's volleyball team looks to close out an undefeated season, while men's volleyball vies to clinch home-court advantage in the playoffs as the Varsity Blues host the Western Mustangs and Windsor Lancers this weekend (Feb. 19-20) at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
Here's the skinny on playoff positioning: Toronto's men kicks the weekend off versus Western on Friday night at 6 p.m. A Toronto victory would secure at least a fourth-place finish and home court advantage in next weekend's quarter-final round. A Western victory would see the two teams tied for the final hosting spot, with Saturday's matches deciding final standings.
Toronto's women have clinched the top spot in the OUA East and look to complete a perfect season. U of T hosts Western on Friday night at 8 p.m., and Windsor on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The Blues are 17-0, having lost only two sets all season. U of T last dropped a set versus the Queen's Gaels on Oct. 31.
Grad Night! The Blues will also honour eight (four men, four women) graduating student-athletes in pre-game ceremonies on Saturday night. Saturday's matches will be streamed live on OUA.tv. Advance tickets are on sale
here.
U of T's men are riding a three-game winning streak, including a thrilling 3-2 upset victory over the No. 1 McMaster Marauders last Saturday afternoon.
Veteran outside hitters Stefan Ristic and Will Colucci lead the team and rank 2-3 in the OUA, averaging 4.9 and 4.5 points per set, respectively. Ristic also leads the province, averaging 0.51 aces per set.
Rookie Andrew Kos ranks third among OUA liberos with 2.68 digs per set, while veteran setter Aleksa Miladinovic sits fifth among setters with 9.43 assists per set, while also averaging 2.24 digs per set.
Toronto's women are led by rookie right side hitter Alina Dormann, who ranks third in the OUA, averaging 4.1 points per set, but U of T's offence comes from all angles. Veteran left side hitter Caleigh Cruickshank averages 3.5 points per set and ranks second in the province with 0.58 aces per set, while fifth-year middle and co-captain Bojana Radan posts 3.4 points per set, including a team-high one block per set.
Tessa Davis and Anna Feore average 2.8 and 2.9 points per set, respectively, with fourth-year setter Madelyn Mandryk leading attack with a top-ranked 9.81 assists per set. Co-captain Denise Wooding ranks fifth in the province, averaging 4.12 digs per set.
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visitÂ
www.varsityblues.ca. Don't forget to follow us onÂ
Twitter,Â
Instagram orÂ
Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.
Â
Â