Women’s volleyball team to host final home games of OUA season this weekend

Lakehead volleyball returns to the Thunderdome this weekend, as the women’s squad prepares to host Toronto and Ryerson for the last home games of the OUA season. The weekend’s matches present the first home volleyball action since late January.

“We have a tough challenge ahead this weekend,” Thunderwolves head coach Craig Barclay says. “Both Ryerson and Toronto are ranked in the top 10 nationally.”

Toronto is currently 11-5 and 8th in USPORTS national rankings, while Ryerson is 15-2 and 2nd in USPORTS national rankings. Ryerson, the defending national champ, is coming off a weekend in which they dominated the #4 Waterloo Warriors, holding them to 10, 14, and 16 points in set wins, while Toronto defeated Ryerson in the Blues’ second-most recent match. Both Ryerson and Toronto are on three-game win streaks.

“Both teams are extremely well coached and both teams have had a lot of success,” Barclay says. “That being said, we look forward to this challenge and welcome it.”

The Thunderwolves are coming off a bye, with a grueling three-game travel weekend in which they lost all three matches the week prior. In their last homestand, Lakehead pushed McMaster to five sets in a game that came down to the wire, with the Marauders taking the last set and the match.

Lakehead will look more all-over-the-court play from Rheanna Geisel, who leads the province in kills per set and points per set. The Thunderwolves will also lean on senior leaders Jessica Korchak and Rachel Sweezey, while also looking for solid contributions from a younger core that includes Virginie Franks and Rebekah Hara.

“This is a great test for us to see how far we can push ourselves and how well we can execute our game plan,” Barclay says.

Games begin at 2pm on Saturday, February 16th and Sunday, February 17th.

The women’s volleyball team finishes their season on the road next weekend in Kingston, where they’ll face Queen’s and RMC.

Special note: the Thunderwolves family will also be celebrating its graduating seniors this weekend, so make sure to come howl with your fellow pack members one more time. Women’s volleyball players will be recognized at Sunday’s match.