Brock roundup
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team defeated the Badgers 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 31-29) to win their second straight OUA provincial title at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport Saturday.
The Badgers and Blues will head to Calgary for the 2020 U SPORTS championship from March 13-15. The seeding and scheduling will be announced on March 8.
It was Brock’s first appearance in the provincial final in program history.
The victory hands Toronto their 12th OUA title in program history.
Third-year middle Grace Pyatt led the Badgers with 11.5 points off of nine kills, 1.5 blocks and an ace, while senior setter Emily Armstrong tallied 23 assists and 11 digs.
First-year libero Aleiah Torres led all Badgers with 13 digs and senior outside hitter Laura Condotta racked up seven kills.
After an error-filled first set and a close second, the Badgers came out firing in the third set and led 7-3 in the early goings.
Darby Taylor, who finished the night with five kills, and Armstrong were strong in the third, but middle Jenna Woock and the Blues proved to be too much for the Badgers.
The back-and-forth battle ensued and with the two teams deadlocked at 29-29 before the Blues pulled away to win 31-29.
Woock led all players with 17 points off of nine kills, five blocks and three aces, including eight digs.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
A trio of men’s volleyball players were named OUA all-stars.
Outside hitter Logan House was named a First Team All-Star while middle Peter Schnabel was named a Second Team All-Star. Saulius Lianga was named to the All-Rookie Team.
“I’m thrilled for the three of them. All three of them have come so far this season and their achievements are well recognized and deserved,” head coach Matt Ragogna said.
House, a second-year outside hitter from Barrie, was fifth in the OUA with 3.53 kills per set and 194 total kills. He also added 89 digs.
Schnabel, a third-year middle from Merzhausen, Germany, led the Badgers with 37 total blocks. He added 1.61 kills per set and .400 hit percentage while Lianga, a first-year left side hitter from Fonthill, finished second on the Badgers with 2.14 kills per set and second behind House with 86 total digs.
“Logan has improved so much of his all-around game this season and Peter has been a consistent force for us every game,” Ragogna said. “Sauli has worked hard on many areas of his game and is a very bright spot for us for the future ahead.”
MURPHY GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
Jensen Murphy is ending her university hockey career on a high note.
The senior netminder was named OUA Goaltender of the Year and a First Team All-Star last week.
Her teammate Annie Berg, who led the Badgers in scoring with eight goals and 20 points in 24 games, was named a Second Team All-Star.
“Jensen is one of the best goalies I have ever seen,” head coach Margot Page said. “For the past five years we have been able to build a strong program around her.”
Murphy made the decision to return for her fifth and final year with the Badgers after careful consideration over the summer to begin her Masters in Applied Health Science.
Murphy led the league in wins (13), and saves (646) for a fourth consecutive season. She also posted top-five marks in both save percentage (.946) and goals-against average (1.60).
“Murphy leads by example. Her positivity, work ethic and leadership are tough to match,” Page said. “We never had to worry what we were going to get from her at practice or in a game, in the classroom or in the community. Jensen was always there to represent Brock in the very best way.”
Murphy’s stats rank among some of the best single-season marks in program history. The goaltending great sits first in career goals-against average, save percentage, wins, saves, and, thanks to another four spotless efforts this season, shutouts.
“We will obviously miss Jensen,” Page added. “She is someone you cannot replace, but the legacy she leaves this program is one of excellence, which can only help us. You can’t beat that.”
SAMBROOK WINS ROOKIE AWARD
Defenceman Jordan Sambrook of the men’s hockey team was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team (West).
Sambrook, a native of Markham who is studying Social Sciences, led the Badgers in rookie scoring alongside forward Christian Girhiny with five goals and 10 points in 28 games.
He also led the team with four power-play goals and enjoyed three multi-point games this season.
Sambrook played four seasons in the OHL with the Erie Otters and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds before joining the Badgers. He scored 51 goals and 155 points in 262 regular season games, and was a plus-134.
In 2016, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Sambrook in the fifth-round (137th overall) at the NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo.
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