Spartan's O'Reilly and Canada take top spot

TIJUANA, Mexico - Trinity Western University setter Lauren O'Reilly (Langley, B.C.) and her Canadian teammates earned gold this week as they took all three matches at the NORCECA women's volleyball world championship qualification tournament.

Canada finished off the tournament with a five set, 25-13, 25-22, 22-25, 20-25, 15-8, victory over host Mexico. The two hour and 12 minute match took place in front of 2,500 fans in Tijuana, Mexico.

Tonya Mokelki (Weyburn, Sask.) with 11 kills , Tiffany Dodds (Lucky Lake, Sask.) with 10 kills and Sherline Holness (Calgary) with 14 points on seven kills, five blocks and two aces led Canada. O'Reilly finished with 55 assists, three blocks, two blocks and two aces.

Canada's 3-0 record came from a 3-0 win over Costa Rica, 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago and today's 3-2 win over Mexico.

The final standings have Canada in first (3-0), Costa Rica second (2-1), Mexico third (1-2) and Trinidad and Tobago fourth (0-3).

The top two teams will earn the final berths from North and Central America and the Caribbean for next October's 2010 world championships in Japan.

O'Reilly is the third member of the Spartans women's volleyball team to be a member of Canada's senior women's team. She follows Lies Reimer (Verhoeff) ('04) and Danya Jansen Van Doorn ('09).

Women's Team Roster:
Samantha Loewen - East St. Paul, MB
Lauren O'Reilly - Langley, BC
Tiffany Dodds - Lucky Lake, SK
Tammy Mahon - Holland, MB
Ashley Voth - Winnipeg, MB
Tonya Mokelki - Weyburn, SK
Brittney Page - Vernon, BC
Kristina Fabris - Sudbury, ON
Tasha Holness - Calgary, AB
Jennifer Hinze - Vancouver, BC
Nadine Alphonse - Montreal, QC
Julie Young - Red Deer, AB

Staff:
Arnd Ludwig - Head Coach
Alain Pelletier - Assistant Coach
Jesse Knight - Team Manager
Ben Trunzo - Medical Therapist
Bruce Kent - Statistician

Source:

Scott Stewart
Sports Information Director
Trinity Western University