University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's volleyball alumna Heather Bansley, and partner Brandie Wilkerson, finished fifth overall as their 2020 Olympic journey came to an end on Tuesday morning (August 3).
 
Bansley and Wilkerson dropped a narrow 2-1 (13-25, 25-18, 11-15) decision to Tina Graudina and Anastasija Kravcenoka of Latvia in quarter-final action to earn the fifth-place standing.
 
After opening the tournament with a 2-1 loss to China, the Canadian duo bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Argentina. They then met a strong Brazil team, falling 2-0, to finish 1-2 after pool play. That set up a Round of 16 match with the United States.
 
In a thrilling display, Bansley and Wilkerson overcame a first-set deficit to defeat the Americans 2-1 (22-24, 21-18,15-13) and advance to the Final 8.  
 
Bansley, a two-time all-Canadian during her time at U of T, completed her fifth and final year of eligibility with the Blues in 2009-10. The English and linguistics graduate ranked first on the OUA leader board in points, kills and serving aces per set and also led the Blues to the provincial title and berth to the U SPORTS national championship that season.

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