Box Score Photo Gallery

The No. 2 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's volleyball team earned their second straight provincial title after defeating the Ryerson Rams 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-13) in the OUA gold medal match on Saturday night (March 5) at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

With the win, the Blues earn the OUA's lone berth to the CIS national championship hosted by Brandon University next weekend (March 11-13). It will mark U of T's 10th CIS championship appearance in program history and third time they've reached the national stage in the past seven seasons.

Toronto boasts their 10th OUA title in program history, claiming nine of the past 21 provincial banners, and becomes the first team to win back-to-back OUA titles since the Blues claimed four straight from 2001-04.

U of T went a perfect 19-0 during the 2015-16 regular season, finishing atop the OUA East division. Toronto earned their spot, and hosting right, to the Final Four after a 3-0 quarter-final win over Ottawa last weekend and went onto defeat the McMaster Marauders, 3-1, in semi-final action last night.

Third-year middle Tessa Davis was named the tournament MVP and player of the match after tallying 12 points on nine kills, two blocks and one ace. OUA East player of the year Alina Dormann notched a game-high 13 points on eight kills and five aces, while fourth-year setter Madelyn Mandryk tallied 33 assists and nine digs on the night.

Sophomore left side Anna Feore recorded eight kills and two blocks, while Caleigh Cruickshank had nine kills and a team-high 12 digs in the victory.

The first set went back-and-forth with neither team holding more than a three-point advantage as Toronto took a 16-14 lead into the break. Things remained close until a couple of big points from Radan led U of T to the 25-20 first set win.

 It was another close battle in the second with the Blues leading 16-15 at the technical timeout. Dormann and Davis helped the Blues take over from there as the home team took the set 25-20.
 
 U of T took control in the third set and did not look back, building a 16-7 lead at the break before sealing their 22nd win of the season, 25-13.

Second-year outside hitter Sim Gill led the Rams with 12 kills, while OUA first team all-star Theanna Vernon added nine kills and once ace. Third-year libero Julie Longman earned player of the match honours with a game-high 19 digs in the loss.
 
Championship MVP: Tessa Davis, Toronto

STAT LEADERS

Toronto
Kills: Tessa Davis (9), Caleigh Cruickshank (9)
Points: Tessa Davis (12), Caleigh Cruickshank (10.5)
Blocks: Tessa Davis (4.5)
Digs: Caleigh Cruickshank (12)
Assists: Madelyn Mandryk (33)
Service aces: Alina Dormann (5)
 
Player of the match: Tessa Davis
 
Ryerson
Kills: Sim Gill (12), Theanna Vernon (9)
Points: Sim Gill (12), Theanna Vernon (10)
Blocks: Jena Bonello (2)
Digs: Julie Longman (19)
Assists: Emily Betteridge (30)
Service aces: 3 Players (1)
 
Player of the match: Julie Longman
 
 
OUA FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Friday, March 4
6:00pm Semifinal #1: Toronto 3, McMaster 1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-19, 30-28)
8:00pm Semifinal #2: Ryerson 3, Western 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19)  
  
Saturday, March 5
6:00pm Bronze medal match: Western 3, McMaster 2 (25-16, 18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13)
8:00pm Gold medal match: Toronto 3, Ryerson 0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-13)