The no. 7 ranked Gee-Gees flew out of the gate with polished attacking and fluid defence and survived a first-set push from the Rams before winning the final two sets by comfortable margins.
Ottawa's all-stars played the part, with OUA Player of the Year Karina Krueger Schwanke landing a match-high 14 kills and also playing an active part on the Ottawa blocking contingent. OUA second team all-star Myriam English was right behind her with 13 kills as the two took turns dominating the front row.
Fifth-year captain Kathryn Weihrer totalled four kills, but all of them came at key moments in the match. She landed one early on in the first set from the middle to tie the score and added another to tie the score again at 15-15 after Ryerson had taken a 15-13 lead.
Weihrer later won key battles on the net in the second set and contributed to Ottawa's huge start in the third set by landing a pair of running hits into open space in the corners. Ottawa jumped out to a 15-7 start in the third, ensuring they finished the sweep.
"It's indescribable - the feeling on the court is so connected," said Weihrer of the team's ability to elevate their play as a unit. "We know that one point, if you make a mistake it doesn't matter because you've got five girls behind you who are going to do their best the next point. They're looking at you like, don't worry, what are you going to do next? It's electrifying."
Each member of the team had moments to shine, and head coach Lionel Woods was quick to point out the contributions of third-year libero Stephanie Theiler. "That was probably her best match of the year. It was like she made up her mind after she missed a couple early ones that no, that wasn't going to happen any more."
Ryerson was led by their second-year attacker Alex Whyte, who scored seven kills in the losing effort.
The first set was a back and forth affair, with the lead changing hands multiple times and neither team generating a lead larger than four, which was held by Ryerson at the 9-5 mark. Myriam English sparked a run by wiping her attack off the Rams blockers and then served Ottawa back to 9-8.
The teams continued to exchange the lead all the way until Ryerson held the advantage at the 23-22 point, which Woods called the turning point of the match.
"We were playing well, but we weren't playing aggressive. Lo and behold, we went back out there at that point and we stayed aggressive on the plays that needed little fixes and it worked out. At that moment, our passing was unbelievable. When we attack the pass and put Christina in the circle to set... our confidence goes up."
Christina Grail started the second set off with two aces, and Ottawa was off and running. The Gee-Gees sported a .281 attack percentage in the second set, with Myriam English scoring six kills and no errors. Ottawa came on strong in the middle portion of the set, holding a 16-11 advantage at the technical break.
After a solid solo block by Alix Durivage and a right-side smash from Kelsie English, Ryerson's all-star Chelsea Briscoe scored two straight points to make the score 21-15. Karina Krueger Schwanke emphatically put any thoughts of a Ram comeback out of mind with a huge kill down the line, and Durivage won a joust to finish the set 25-17.
The third set was put out of reach early. The Gee-Gees established a 5-0 lead including another ace from Grail, a couple of laid-out saves by Steph Theiler, energetic blocking by Durivage, Schwanke, and Kelsie English, and a well-executed backrow attack by Myriam English. Ottawa pushed their lead to 16-10 and then 21-14. A crafty over-the shoulder, one-handed tip by Grail gave Ottawa match point at 24-16, and a block by Durivage and Schwanke finished the match.
Krueger Schwanke was named player of the match for Ottawa, while Veronica Livingston earned the honour for Ryerson.
The Gee-Gees will have a light practice tomorrow morning before facing the York Lions in the gold medal match. The game will be just the second head-to-head match between the OUA's two CIS ranked teams this season, and the winner will advance to the CIS Championship next weekend.
The match will be broadcast live on SSN Canada.
