1979-1980 OWIAA Volleyball Champions

The 1979-80 Gee-Gees were coached by Betty Baxter, who was also the national team coach. It was the second year that the national team was based in Ottawa. Three members of the Gee-Gees were on the national team, as carded athletes their tuition was paid. The national team was housed at University residences, and used the gymnasium at Montpetit Hall. 

RECAP: Gee-Gees volleyball finalists

A year ago, University of Ottawa women were battling in tier two of the Ontario women's intercollegiate volleyball program. Today they are queens of all they survey.

They swept to the Ontario crown and a berth in the national final at the University of Saskatchewan next month before home fans here Saturday night.

Their toughest match on the way to the nationals came in a preliminary-round match against York women, runners-up in the nationals last year. The visitors took U of O to a fifth match before bowing 12-15, 7-15, 15-8, 15-0, 19-17.

They went against Western for the overall title and that was over in short order with scores 15-5, 15-8, 15-4. The champions started the two-day tournament with a 37-4 record and they lost only three games.

The champions also had Judy Szepesi lead the all-stars and earn tournament most valuable honours.

Note: this article originally appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on February 25, 1980. On Feburary 23, the Citizen published the following:

U of O, sparked by Mylene Camu and Judy and Suzie Szepesi, beat Western 15-8, 15-2, 16-14 and McMaster 15-13, 15-0, 11-15, 15-6 in the first two matches of a preliminary round-robin. U of O, first at the end of the schedule, was to play York, the defending Ontario champion, this morning at 11 at Montpetit Hall and McMaster and Western were to play at 1 p.m. The top two were to advance to tonight's final at 8.