LAMEY POWERS GEE-GEES TO TWO WINS OUT OF THE GATE
The Ottawa Gee-Gees made a statement in their first week of the OUA season as all-star Christine Lamey pounded out 14 kills in a 3-0 win over the defending OUA champion Windsor Lancers, the first of two victories for the Gee-Gees. The Lancers went on an incredible run last season to capture the first volleyball crown in the program's history but they could not contain Lamey, who fuelled the straight-set win (25-21, 25-22 and 25-14) with 20 total points and 15 digs, both match-highs. Laura Simons had 25 assists for the Gee-Gees. Andrea Easnor led the Lancers with eight kills. Ottawa improved to 2-0 on the heels of 21 more kills from Lamey in a 3-1 win over the Western Mustangs Sunday. The Gee-Gees overpowered Western in the four-setter (25-19, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-18) with Rachel Runnels (15), Kirsten Brouse (13) and Karine Gagnon all adding double-digit kill totals. Simons had an incredible 62 assists in the win, helping Ottawa to top spot in the East. Julia Hall led the Mustangs in kills (16), digs (17) and points (19).
The Ryerson Rams join Ottawa at 2-0 after knocking off Lakehead 3-1 and 3-0 in a two-game trip to Thunder Bay. Jennifer Williams had 18 kills and Sasha Kosanov had 33 assists for the Rams as they rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win three straight in the Lakehead gym. Wolves' star Melissa Merilainen led all players with 19 kills and 22 points. Williams produced a match-high 23 points, including another 18 kills, in the rematch (26-24, 25-17 and 25-18). Alicia Pyke had 38 assists in guiding the Rams offence. Merilainen added 10 more kills in the loss.
The Brock Badgers are the only West team sitting at 2-0 after posting back-to-back wins over the RMC Paladins and Queen's Golden Gaels. Kaitlyn Wilson had 15 assists and Megan Young added 13 more as a well-balanced Badgers offence took control of the match, helping Brock to a 3-0 win (25-15, 25-13 and 25-19). RMC's Leah West led all players with eight points. Miranda Midgley racked up team-highs of 14 kills and 17 points in Brock's 3-1 win over the Gaels. The Badgers started strong with a tight 31-29 win in the first set and took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-23 victory in the second. Queen's responded with a 25-21 in the third but Brock closed it out in the next set, dominating the play in a 25-15 win. Young chipped in 46 assists in the match. Queen's got the bulk of their offence from Louise Hamill and Amanda Digel, who had 21 and and 15 kills respectively.
Kendall Milne had 21 kills and Amanda Lorbergs added 13 more as the Guelph Gryphons kicked off the season with a 3-2 win over the Waterloo Warriors Thursday. Naomi Brown had 41 assists fro the Gryphs. Sarah Masterton and Sarah Kiernan had seven kills each in McMaster's 3-0 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks Thursday in Hamilton. The Marauders dominated the match, winning the first set 25-10, the second 25-8 and the third 25-16. Danielle Walker paced Laurier eight points, all from kills.
Heather Bansley led all players with 19 kills and 20 points as the Toronto Varsity Blues jumped out to a 1-0 start with a 3-2 win over the York Lions Thursday. All-star Anastasia Danilova recorded 42 assists in the win, while Nicole Carleton-Burnham paced the Lions with 11 kills and 13 points.