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Sports Oakville Beaver COMING THROUGH: Loyola Hawks player Marti Killeen (15) spikes the ball against the block of Assumption's Autumn Bailey (left) and Christine McNulty during the Halton senior girls' volleyball AAA final Wednesday at Sheridan College. Loyola rallied from a 14-11 deficit in the third and deciding set to prevail 25-57, 2520, 16-14. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Mention this ad and receive two free lessons!* * With one month sign up, applicable to new students only, expires March 15th. 905-582-5132 info@inklingmusic.com SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 45 Hawks rally to win Sr. title With their season on the line, the Loyola Hawks had the volleyball in the right player's hands. Led by the steady serving of Nicole Helmer, the Hawks closed out Wednesday's Halton senior girls' AAA volleyball final with five straight points to edge the Assumption Crusaders 25-27, 25-20, 16-14 at Sheridan College. Helmer hit five quality serves to end the game, including an ace to pull the Hawks within 14-13. Loyola head coach Toni Babic was more than comfortable to have Helmer serving with the game in the balance. "She's so consistent, she's a very smart player, she knows what she has to do," Babic said of the Loyola captain, a rep player with the Mountain Athletic Club. "She did her job as a captain, a leader, and as a great friend." The Hawks' win earned them a spot in the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference championship game against St. Mary's. Loyola will host the game Monday or Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) AAA tournament. The thought of Loyola making an OFSAA appearance this season was a far-fetched notion only a few weeks ago. The Hawks lost four of their first seven games in Halton play before turning their season around with a surprising win at the Ontario Catholic Classic tournament earlier this month. The Hawks have lost just one set since winning the Catholic tournament. "Just before (that tournament), we started to come together as a team. Injuries were working themselves out... and we worked out all the kinks," said Babic. "It surely made the girls believe in themselves." Assumption had defeated Loyola in both regular-season meetings between the clubs this year. The Hawks managed to limit the damage of the Crusaders' powerful hitters, Syracuse University recruit Andrea Fisher and national beach volleyball silver medalist Autumn Bailey, in Wednesday's final. "We worked on our mental strategies, understanding what we needed to do to make a little crack in their system," Babic said. "They did a great job getting through (our blocks) many times, but we didn't give up." -- Jon Kuiperij Open Registra on for New and Returning Members February 27 9 a.m. ­ 12 p.m. Oakville Town Hall South Atrium 1225 Trafalgar Road *New members will require proof of birth Registra on is open only on February 27. It will reopen star ng March 8 at the Oakville Soccer Club. 1520 Pine Glen Road (Dundas and Third Line) 9:30 a.m. ­ 10:00 p.m., Monday - Sunday. For more informa on, please visit our website at www.oakvillesoccer.ca