2/19/2010 11:08:51 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 19, 2010) – The Queen’s Gaels (14-6) ended the York Lions (11-8) season with a 3-1 victory during their OUA women’s volleyball quarter-final match on Friday night at the Athletics & Recreation Centre. Set scores for the game were: 25-19, 25-23, 13-25, 25-17.

The win hands Queen’s a trip to the OUA Final Four and its first semifinal match since 2004. Ironically that year the Gaels beat York 3-2 in Kingston to qualify for the semifinal and they would eventually go on to win the OUA bronze medal.

On Friday, Queen’s Colleen Ogilvie (#7) of Calgary was the game’s leading scorer tallying 17 points on 12 kills, three aces and two blocks while Natalie Gray (#12) of Oshawa, Ont., was spectacular recording 26 digs and eight points in the win. Julie Lockwood (#6) of Calgary led the Gaels with 31 assists.

Ogilvie’s three aces came in the fourth and final set with the Gaels sitting 11-9. With the momentum teetering, Ogilvie led a four point charge that moved the score to 15-9 and put the match out of reach for the Lions.

Lorna Button (#4) of Newcastle, Ont. and Katie Matthews (#13) of Aurora, Ont., had 12 and 11 points respectively while Elyssa Heller (#2) of Highland Park Ill, USA also broke into double digit scoring with 10 points.

York’s Thinesa Sriskandarajah of Scarborough, Ont. and Kristina Vlcek of Toronto registered 10 points each for the Lions. Sriskandarajah points came on seven kills and three blocks while Vlecek had eight kills and two blocks. Gina Morphy of Ottawa tallied 21 assists in the loss.

With strong hitting from Ogilvie, the Gaels grabbed an early eight point lead to open the game at 11-3. York would cut the lead to 19-15 before Ogilvie and Shannon Walsh (#11) of Perth Road, Ont., would score critical points to finish the opening set 25-19.

In the second set, the Lions roared to a 7-1 advantage and looked poised to tie the game. However commanding hits from Heller and Gray would cut York’s lead to four. Impressive serving from Button would continue the Gaels comeback with Gray tying the game on a kill at 21. Gray also had the set-ending kill in the second game finishing 25-23.

York again dominated the opening points of the third set, vaulting to a nine point lead. The Gaels were never able to grab momentum in the third game and York won easily 25-13.

In the final set, both teams refused to lose with York and Queen’s trading points on several long rallies. Ogilvie’s critical three of four aces was the difference and it was only a matter of time before the Gaels finished the fourth set 25-17.

In other OUA women’s volleyball playoff action, Western and Toronto advanced to the OUA Final Four sweeping Guelph and Ottawa respectively. Tomorrow the No. 1 seeded McMaster Marauders host the Waterloo Warriors to decide the final team heading to the Final Four. If McMaster comes away with the win they will host to the OUA Final Four, otherwise it will be hosted in London, Ont. by Western next weekend (Feb 26-27).

NOTES: The Gaels were a unblemished 9-0 on their home court this season including a perfect 7-0 in the Main Gym of the new Athletics & Recreation Centre… On Wednesday, Ogilvie, Gray and Matthews garnered OUA East All-Start honours. Ogilvie and Gray were named to the first team while Matthews was selected to the second team.