1980-1981 OWIAA Volleyball Champions

The Gee-Gees of 1980-1981 were ranked no. 1 in the nation among university teams, and were the second-ranked club team in Canada. The team featured seven current or former national team members, and was in its fourth season as a varsity program.

The team carried a 35-0 record into the final weekend of the regular season, when it was upset by McMaster. However, the team regrouped and won the OWIAA championship and a national bronze medal in Victoria.

It would be the last season for head coach Lorne Sawula, who helped found the varsity program at uOttawa. 

RECAP : U of O defeats York for volleyball honours

University of Ottawa won its second consecutive Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Association title Saturday at York University, but not without a major struggle.

After taking Ottawa to five games in the opener of the four-team, round-robin championship Friday, York Yeowomen sprinted into an 8-1 first-game lead. But Ottawa rebounded to win the game 15-12.

York, the 1980 finalist, continued to press in the second game, taking it 15-9, but the disciplined Ottawa team close out the final 15-3, 15-10. Louise Harrison was one of Ottawa's key players.

"We're going to feel a lot more comfortable out in Victoria than here against York," Ottawa coach Lorne Sawula said. "Our girls have had a mental block with York before, but I was extremely pleased with their performance."

Ottawa, which has a 39-1 win-loss record, will be hoping to improve on its 1980 second-place finish at the 1981 nationals March 5-7 in Victoria.

Mylene Camu and Judy Szepesi, both of Ottawa, were named to the OWIAA all-star teams.

Note: this article originally appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on February 23, 1981.