COUGARS HUNT DOUBLE GF JOY

GEELONG will have two teams in VNL grand finals after successfully negotiating the first week of finals.

The Cougars’ Championship and Division 1 teams progressed straight to their respective deciders after winning their 1v2 matches, but the 19-and-under side fell at the first hurdle.

It will be a maiden VNL grand final appearance for the Cougars’ Championship team after they blasted their way into the grand final with a 58-44 win over Melbourne University Lightning.

The scene was set early, with Brooke Allan and Allie Smith taking two intercepts in the first two minutes, creating early uncertainty in the Lightning attacking end.

Zanna Woods and Julia Woolley combined for a perfect scoring start, shooting 17 from 17 in the first quarter.

Coach Gerard Murphy stuck with a mostly unchanged line-up for the first half, allowing the starting seven to take care of things.

Woods (26/28), Woolley (20/21) and Ruby Horton (10/13) shouldered the load.

In Division 1, the Cougars defeated DC North East Blaze, 54-50, in a tightly contested thriller match as expected.

Blaze applied pressure down the court, jamming the Cougars’ ability to find Hannah Van Gemst in the circle.

Coach Olivia Wilson called a change at quarter time, bringing on Jaimee Van Leerdam into goal keeper.

Three goals down at half time, Kaitlyn Sheringham entered the game for the Cougars and used her speed to open up the attacking end. Ali O’Connor again was dynamic in wing defence.

In the 19-and-under, the Cougars fell short against Peninsula Waves, defeated 48-53.