QUEBEC CITY (CIS) – The top-seeded University of British Columbia Thunderbirds became the most decorated team in CIS women's volleyball history thanks to a dominating, straight-set gold medal win (25-16, 25-18, 25-14) over the tournament host and No. 3 Laval Rouge et Or, Sunday afternoon, at PEPS Stadium.
Championship website
"I look at this as a tremendous two days starting with the match last night which was our best of the year. And then, to be able to come into the final against a pretty fired up Laval team was a testament to the confidence that we've built in the last week and a half. That confidence was always latent with this group based on the experiences we've had but it really began to show heading into the Canada West final four," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer.
Kyla Richey led the T-Birds with 16 kills on .444 hitting with CIS MVP
Shanice Marcelle tallying 13 kills and 11 digs. Fifth-year middle
Jen Hinze had six kills while first-year middle Mariah Bruisnma added two kills, one solo block, and five blocks assists.
It was a consummate performance from the'Birds as they hit .352 as a team while holding Laval to .034. UBC also out blocked Laval 8-1.
"Our performance today speaks to the culture of the team in the sense that a number of players were in new roles this year but have been soaking up experience the last few. A lot of teams in this environment, playing in the national final against the home team, would not have been as focused and executing at such a high level of play that really took Laval out of the match," added Reimer.
The Rouge et Or, who improve from a bronze medal finish in 2010, saw their season end in straight sets against UBC for the third consecutive year, following 3-0 semifinal losses to the T-Birds in both 2010 and 2009. The Quebec champions were playing in their first national final since 2007, when they lost 3-1 to Alberta. They captured their lone CIS title in 2006 with a four-set victory over UBC.
It marked the eighth national title for the T-Birds since the inaugural CIS championship in 1970, one more than Alberta and Winnipeg. UBC had previously been crowned in 2010 in Edmonton, 2009 and 2008 in Fredericton, 1978 in Moncton, 1977 in Waterloo, 1974 at home in Vancouver, and 1973 in Wolfville, N.S.
UBC's four-year championship run is the third longest in history, trailing only the six consecutive banners won by Alberta (1995-2000) and Winnipeg (1983-1988).
"Looking back over these last four years, we're very thankful and very grateful. If you look at it there were a whole numbers of years where we had a reputation as good program with good people but always falling that little bit short. The success the team is having now wouldn't have happened without everything we've done over the last 15 years. This culture began more than four years ago," noted Reimer.
CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-STARS
Tournament MVP: Shanice Marcelle, UBC
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Brina Derksen-Bergen, UBC
Tournament All-Stars
Jaki Ellis, Alberta
Lauren O'Reilly, Trinity Western
Mélanie Savoie, Laval
Shanice Marcelle, UBC
Marie-Christine Mondor, Laval
Jen Hinze, UBC
Kyla Richey, UBC
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Friday, March 4
Quarter-final #1: UBC 3, Sherbrooke 1 (25-13, 25-18, 23-25, 25-12)
Quarter-final #2: Alberta 3, Montreal 1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22)
Quarter-final #3: Trinity Western 3, Western Ontario 2 (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 15-8)
Quarter-final #4: Laval 3, UNB 1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17)
Saturday, March 5
Consolation #1: Montreal 3, Sherbrooke 0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17)
Consolation #2: Western Ontario 3, UNB 0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22)
Semifinal #1: UBC 3, Alberta 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-22)
Semifinal #2: Laval 3, Trinity Western 1 (27-25, 19-25, 28-26, 25-19)
Sunday, March 6
5th place: Montreal 3, Western Ontario 1 (25-22, 25-14, 22-25, 28-26)
Bronze medal: Trinity Western 3, Alberta 1 (25-14, 25-19, 18-25, 25-20)
Championship final: UBC 3, Laval 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-14)
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