OUA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL QUARTER-FINAL MATCH UP PREVIEWS

HAMILTON, Ont. – A quick look at the 2007 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women's Volleyball quarter-final playoff match-ups.

Western vs Laurier- #1 West vs #4 West
The No.10 Western Mustangs (18-1) enter the 2007 OUA playoffs on an 18 game winning streak. After losing their first game of the season to a strong Ottawa Gee-Gees team (13-6), the Mustangs have gone undefeated and hope to continue their dominant streak throughout the playoffs. The Laurier Golden Hawks (10-9) bring with them an offensive one-two punch with veterans Danielle Walker (Oakville, Ontario) and Kaitlyn Sauder (St. Jacobs, Ontario). Walker and Sauder currently sit second and third respectively in the OUA in average points per game (4.40, 4.15). The home and home series has seen two close contests this year with the Mustangs pulling out both victories by narrow 3-2 margins, and will need strong performances from their veteran players if they want to continue in this years playoffs. Western's Julia Hall (Lindsay, Ontario) will provide the offensive power for the Mustangs. Hall finished the season with 178 kills and averaged 3.47 points per game. Defensively libero Andrea Ruste (Edmonton, Alberta) will need to continue her stellar defensive play, which saw her end the regular season number one in the OUA in digs with 396 on the season.

Western vs Laurier- #1 West vs #4 West
February 16, 2007- 7:00 pm- Western

McMaster vs Waterloo- #2 West vs #3 West
McMaster and Waterloo are set to go head-to-head during the quarter-finals of the OUA volleyball playoffs. McMaster is moving into the playoffs on a high from this past weekends convincing 3-0 win over the No.8 Toronto Varsity Blues (17-2) to end the regular season, as Waterloo (11-8) fell to the Laurier Golden Hawks (10-9) 3-2 in their final match up. McMaster who finished the regular season with a 15-4 record will rely heavily on fourth year, left side Carly Welsh (Hamilton Ontario) who provides a consistent offensive and defensive attack for the Marauders ending the year with 156 kills and 197 digs. McMaster will also look to second year setter Jenn Holt (Hamilton, Ontario) to provide the offensive strategy as she finished second in the OUA in assists (613). Waterloo's leadership will come from fourth year verteran Susan Murray (London, Ontario) who finished with a team high 251 points on the season.

McMaster vs Waterloo- #2 West vs #3 West
February 16, 2007- 7:00 pm- McMaster

Toronto vs Queen's- #1 East vs #4 East
The Queen's Golden Gaels make a return to the playoffs in 2007, but have a tough road a head of them as they face the No.8 Toronto Varsity Blues in the quarter finals. In their home and home series this year the Golden Gaels have yet to win a set against a dominant Varsity Blues squad. Queen's come into the playoffs with an 8-11 record and will need an all-star game from leading scorer Amanda Digel (Ottawa, Ontario) who finished the season with 277 points. First year Louise Hamill (North Vancouver, British Columbia) has made an immediate impact on a rebuilding Queen's program and will need to continue her outstanding play into the playoffs. Toronto is looking to come back in 2007 from a 2006 OUA final, upset loss at the hands of the Windsor Lancers, and will look to go deep into the playoffs. Toronto will need Anastasia Danilova (Toronto, Ontario) to continue her dominating presence on the court. With 400 assists and 137 kills on the season, Danilova sits tenth in the OUA with an average 3.45 points per game.

Toronto vs Queen's- #1 East vs #4 East
February 16, 2007- 7:00 pm- Toronto

York vs Ottawa- #2 East vs #3 East
In a re-match of last year's quarter-final match up which saw the Ottawa Gee-Gees (13-6) steal the fifth set win 18-16 over the York Lions (14-5), both teams again get set to take to the court. Ottawa features the play of OUA standout Christine Lamey (Kanata, Ontario) who leads the OUA in points per game (4.78) and kills with 270. The five-foot-eleven, leisure studies student will need to be the offensive strength for the Gee-Gees. York will counter with Elizabeth Salas (Toronto, Ontario) who has an offensive punch of her own with a 4.02 points per game average and 217 kills on the season. Salas will team up with setter Nadia Reider (Thornhill, Ontario) who has accumulated 500 assists over 66 games for the Lions this season. As both teams battled to the end of the regular season for home court advantage, and splitting the home and home series 1-1, this looks to be a close back and forth battle and a playoff game to watch.

York vs Ottawa- #2 East vs #3 East
February 17, 2007- 4:00 pm- York

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