OSHAWA, Ont. - The Durham Lords' season came to an end at the 2025 CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship after a straight-set loss to the VIU Mariners in the bronze semifinals.

In front of a home crowd at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, the Lords battled but fell short with set scores of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-17. 

Despite the loss, Durham's performance at the national championship marked a successful campaign for the program.

Chelsea Oke led the Lords with eight kills on 20 attempts, hitting .350 while also recording six digs. Elizabeth McFarland matched Oke with eight kills of her own on 23 attempts and added two digs. 

Aislinn Pedersen contributed six kills and seven digs, helping Durham stay competitive in key moments throughout the match. Brooke Young facilitated the offence with 21 assists while also picking up six digs on the defensive end.

Durham recorded 28 total kills while hitting .213 as a team but struggled against VIU's efficient attack, which finished with a .411 hitting percentage. The Lords collected 35 digs, led by Jayde Smyth and Pedersen, who each tallied seven. 

Jessie Buck added four kills on ten attempts while hitting .400, and her three solo blocks helped slow down VIU's offensive rhythm.

Although the Lords fought hard, VIU's strong serving and powerful attack made the difference. The Mariners delivered seven aces and 45 total kills while controlling the pace from start to finish. 

Durham's best chance came in the second set when they managed to stay within striking distance before a late push by VIU extended the lead.

Smyth earned player of the match honours for the Lords.

With the loss, Durham's season officially comes to an end, closing out a memorable year as the host team of the national championship. The Lords now shift their focus to the future, looking to build upon the experience gained on the national stage.

The championship will conclude on Saturday with the bronze medal match between the VIU Mainers and either the Elans de Garneau or Augustana Vikings at 4:00 PM, while the gold medal match between the Lakeland Rustlers and Humber Hawks is set for 6:00 PM.

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