Ancaster, ON – OCAA No. 6 Redeemer Royals Women's Volleyball opened playoff action Saturday evening at the Redeemer Athletic Complex with a resilient four-set victory over the Georgian Grizzlies. After dropping the opening set, the Royals responded with three consecutive wins to claim the match 18-25, 25-10, 25-12, 25-18 and advance in OCAA postseason play.

Georgian, who entered the playoffs with a 9-7 record, came ready to challenge the Royals and took control early. The Grizzlies hit .308 in the opening set, using efficient offense to secure the 25-18 win and momentarily quiet the home crowd.
Redeemer answered emphatically in the second set. The Royals tightened defensively, controlled serve-receive, and limited Georgian to just four kills in 27 attempts. Redeemer's balanced attack and aggressive serving led to a dominant 25-10 set victory, shifting the momentum firmly in favour of the home side.

The third set saw the Royals continue to apply pressure. Redeemer hit .261 as a team while holding Georgian to just .029 efficiency. The back-to-back set wins put the Royals one set away from advancing.
In the fourth, with the home crowd enthusiastically cheering every play, Redeemer delivered its most complete performance of the night, attacking at an impressive .481 with 15 kills and only two errors. The Royals closed out the 25-18 set to secure the match and move on to the next round.

Alanna Heidbuurt led the Royals offensively with 11 kills on a .474 hitting percentage while also anchoring the net defensively with 13 blocks. Kate DeJong added 10 kills while hitting .429 and contributed 12 digs in a strong all-around effort. Avery Surette recorded nine kills and a team-high 15 digs, showcasing her versatility.

Claire Heide added six kills and seven service aces, helping apply consistent pressure from the service line. Joelle Lammers contributed four block assists, while Ada Cook added 11 digs to steady the back row.
As a team, Redeemer hit .340 compared to Georgian's .126 and out-dug the Grizzlies 62-47. The Royals also hit 17 service aces and controlled the net throughout the final three sets.

With the win, Coach Kate Grassman and the Royals now prepare for their toughest test yet, a semifinal match-up against OCAA No. 1 Seneca Sting on Friday evening in Toronto. Seneca enters as the top seed in the province, and the Royals will look to carry Saturday's momentum into what promises to be a high-intensity playoff battle.

Stay tuned to redeemerroyals.ca for upcoming OCAA playoff game times and information.