Toronto Metropolitan University's Independent Student Newspaper Since 1967

All Sports

Rams lose in OUA semis, will play for bronze

By Charles Vanegas

The Ryerson women’s volleyball team will play for OUA bronze after losing in straight sets to the Ottawa Gee-Gees in Friday’s semi-final match at the OUA Final Four at York University.

The Rams got off to a strong start, keeping up with Ottawa throughout the entire first set, before losing 24-26.

“For the first set, I thought we had a good chance to win,” said middle blocker Chelsea Briscoe. “But after that there were key points where we didn’t get the points we needed or we let them take it away from us, and that’s why it ended the way it did.”

The Rams lost the next two sets 17-25 and 19-25.

“Ottawa’s a big, talented team, but they outplayed us in every facet today,” said Rams head coach Dustin Reid. “They outplayed us in free ball, they outplayed us on defense, [and] they outplayed us in serves and passing. We can always try to improve our talent, but we need to be better at controlling the ball. That’s how the game’s played, and I think we can be a bit better than we were today.”

While disappointed with the loss, the team was positive when reflecting on the season. Just two years removed from an injury-plagued season in which the team finished 1-18, the Rams posted their best record in program history, going 14-4 and winning their first-round playoff match against McMaster University.

“We had a phenomenal season [and] I think we learned a lot about ourselves this year,” said Briscoe, who was recently named a first-team OUA all star. “Being in the OUA Final Four shows that we have the potential [to contend for championships.]”

The Rams will play the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the bronze medal game on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Tait MacKenzie Centre at York University.

“We’ll take [the loss] into our game tomorrow with Toronto and use it — hopefully it’ll be good motivation,” said outside hitter Veronica Livingston, who was named to the OUA all-rookie team.

[nggallery id=109]

Leave a Reply