Spartans take bronze at CIS nationals

Posted by admin on Mar 10, 2011 in Sports | 0 comments

It was not the storybook ending the women’s volleyball team wanted, but the Spartans still took home their first CIS medal in their 10
year history.

The Spartans were in tough from the start of tournament with their opening match facing the OUA champions – the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. The game featured lots of lead changes and long rallies with each team responding well to the pressure and adjustments from the other side. With tough attacking and great defence from both sides, the game was bound to end up in a fifth set. It was in the final set though that the Spartans went to work pushing out a big lead and winning 15-8. Kara Jansenvandoorn led the team with 19 kills and Lauren O-Reilly was selected as player of the match with 48 assists and 19 digs.
The semi-final match placed the Spartans squarely against the home crowd favourites – the University of Laval Rouge et Or. The Spartans pushed hard against the home team, but fell short of the mark with a missed opportunity to win the third set even after leading 24-21.
The fourth set was still close, but with the momentum now in their favour, Laval found their final burst of energy and won the game to qualify for the gold medal game. The Spartans loss put them in the bronze medal game on Sunday.
It only took four sets for the Spartans to beat the Alberta Pandas and take home their first medal at the CIS championships. The Pandas could not find their groove in the first set, allowing TWU to take it 25-14. The second round between these top ranked squads was contested, but the Spartans carried the momentum to a 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead in the game. Alberta finally proved their stripes late in the third set with a 7-0 run to win and keep the game going. However, in the fourth set, the Spartans responded late with five unanswered points to win the game and take the Bronze medal.
Before the tournament began, TWU sideline boss Ryan Hofer was named the CIS Coach of the Year, the first women’s volleyball coach to receive these honours for the Spartans. After six years of coaching the team, Hofer guided the squad to a second place finish in the competitive Canada West division including a silver medal at the Canada West finals and the No. 2 seed going into the National Championship tournament. This year, the Spartans had the lowest opponent hitting average (.111) in Canada West, second in blocks per set (2.53), third in hitting (.215) and fourth in kills (12.09 per set).
Kara Jansenvandoorn was named to the CIS first all star team, while Alicia Perrin, in addition to her Canada West Rookie of the Year honours, was awarded a spot on the CIS All-Rookie Team.