Varsity Blues win first-ever women’s volleyball title with victory over Spartans

BRANDON, Man. – The Toronto Varsity Blues made a lot of history with their victory in the final of the CIS women’s volleyball championship on Sunday.

The second-seeded Varsity Blues topped the defending champion Trinity Western Spartans 25-21, 25-18, 25-12 to win the first women’s volleyball title, and medal, in school history.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” said Caleigh Cruickshank, who earned the tournament’s most valuable player title with eight kills in the final and 40 over the course of her three matches. “I’m over the moon. It still hasn’t even 100 per cent sunk in yet. It feels like a dream.”

The title capped a remarkable season for the Varsity Blues, who went 25-0 over the course of the OUA regular season, playoffs and nationals. They’re the first team to go undefeated through conference play and the CIS championship since the UBC Thunderbirds in 2010. Including non-conference play, Toronto had a 33-4 record versus CIS teams.

Toronto also ended a long drought for Ontario at the event. It was the first women’s volleyball championship by an OUA team in 40 years, and the Varsity Blues became only the second Ontario team to win the title, joining the Western Mustangs, who won in 1972, 1975 and 1976.

“It was a huge win. It’s just so exciting to be able to represent our province,” said CIS rookie of the year Alina Dormann. “We worked so hard all this year so it’s just real exciting to be able to represent our program at the U of T and also the OUA.”

Dormann led Toronto with 10 kills and five service aces in the final.

Elizabeth Wendel led the Spartans with 13 kills.

Earlier on Sunday, the Heat beat the Thunderbirds for the bronze medal, while the Montreal Carabins defeated the Dalhousie Tigers to finish in fifth place.