HAMILTON (March 4, 2020) - The No.4 Queen's Gaels (1-0) will battle the host No.5 McMaster Marauders (1-0) in their semifinal match at the OUA Forsyth Cup Final Four on Friday night in Hamilton.
Schedule & Results
OUA.tv
Ticket Information
THE FINAL FOUR
This year's OUA Final Four features three returning squads from the 2018-19 championship that was hosted at Queen's as the No.4 Gaels, No.5 Marauders and No.6 Toronto Varsity Blues are back. This year they are joined by a newcomer from the OUA West the No.10 Guelph Gryphons.
Last year it was the host Gaels who defeated McMaster in five-sets for the OUA title. Toronto finished fourth losing in the bronze medal match.
Toronto and Guelph will compete in the opening semifinal at 5:30 pm Friday. The Varsity Blues defeated the Gryphons 3-1 earlier this season at Guelph.
The second semifinal will feature Queen's and McMaster. The Gaels defeated the Marauders in their only meeting this season back on November 1 at the Queen's ARC 3-0. Queen's has now bested their OUA rivals in four-straight matches dating back to November of 2018.
The winners of the two semifinals will compete for gold Saturday at 8 pm with the bronze medal match starting at 5:30 pm.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The OUA Forsyth Cup is at stake this weekend, the Gaels are the current title holders as they snapped McMaster's six-year run as champions. Toronto will be looking for its first title since 2003-04 and Guelph has won just once in program history during the 1977-78 season.
All four teams are nationally ranked heading into the weekend and three of the four squads will get a chance to see their season continue past this weekend to Manitoba for the U SPORTS national championship.
MCMASTER & QUEEN'S TITLE STREAK
For the past 14 years, either one of Queen's or McMaster has won the OUA Forsyth Cup championship. The streak dates back to 2005-06 when the Gaels won the title after York had won the year prior. Over the 14 years, the Gaels have won five times and McMaster nine. One of the two schools will have a chance to keep the streak alive on Saturday.
AWARD WINNERS
The Gaels saw a pair of major award winners announced Tuesday as
Zac Hutcheson was named the OUA East MVP and East Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit recipient while rookie
Erik Siksna was the East Rookie of the Year.
Guelph saw Jonathan Pickett pick up the OUA West rookie of the year honours while Jordan Periera was the West Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit recipient.
The two coaches of the year are also in the Final Four as Toronto's John Barrett received the honour for the East along with long-time great Dave Preston for the West.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
The 2020 U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Championship will be hosted by the Manitoba Bison's this year and the action starts March 13 through to March 15. For more information visit
gobisons.ca.
