Box Score
MONTREAL – Genevieve Plante of Montreal had 16 kills and 24 digs as McGill defeated Manitoba 3-1 in women's exhibition volleyball at Love Competition Hall, Thursday. The Martlets won by set scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-23 and 25-20.
 
“She played really well offensively,” said McGill head coach Rachele Beliveau, about Plante, who also had , three stuff blocks, one ace and a 2.22 passing ratio. “Gen kept the team in the game, especially through the first few sets.

Other Martlet contributors included junior Marie-Christine Lapointe of St. Jean sur Richelieu, Que., with nine kills, a game-high 21 digs, two stuff blocks, one ace and a 2.00 passing ratio. Rookie Catherine Amyot of Ottawa, added eight kills and 17 digs, while Marcela Mansure, a fifth-year setter from Rio de Janeiro, was credited with 40 assists, to go along with 10 digs, four kills, one ace and a block. Freshman Ashley Norfleet, a 5-foot-11 power-hitter from Brossard, Que., registered seven kills, three digs and three stuff blocks.
                           
"We played a more aggressive game today with a good level of intensity and ball control," added Beliveau. "It took us a while to get going but when we started to pass the ball well, it reminded me of last year's team (which won bronze at the CIS championships), when we had a lot of offensive variation that made us tough to play. We still need to improve on our first passing play after receiving the ball.”

McGill, which improved to 17-14 overall, including a 7-7 regular season record, resumes league play on Jan. 11 when they host Sherbrooke, which sit second in the RSEQ standings with an 11-3 record.

McGill currently sits last in the four-team RSEQ conference and are three wins shy of the third-place Montreal Carabins (10-4) who are holding down the final playoff berth. Six games remain on McGill's schedule, two apiece against Laval, Montreal and Sherbrooke. The Martlets would need to win at least five of their contests if they hope to qualify for post-season play.

“It's going to be hard but we are focused on maintaining a positive attitude and learning to manage the pressure,” said Beliveau, whose 15-member roster features six freshmen and three sophomores. “Our rookies were really (nervous) for most of the first semester as there was a lot of pressure on them to perform. Because of numerous injuries, they got significant playing time right from the beginning (which doesn't usually happen with freshmen). That experience should help them considerably the rest of the way.”
 
Sherbrooke will host the CIS championships, which means that the top three teams from Quebec will qualify for Nationals. Should Sherbrooke finish in the top three, then the fourth-place team will not advance to the RSEQ playoffs. However, should Sherbrooke collapse and end-up in fourth, then all four Quebec teams will make the playoffs, which would then feature two semifinal series, followed by the league championship series.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
Bisons vs Martlets
(01/03/2013 at Montreal, QC)

Martlets def. Bisons 3-1 (25-17,21-25,25-23,25-20) Bisons (Kills-aces-blocks) - Rachel Cockrell 14-3-1; Taylor Pischke 13-2-1; Danika Picklyk 7-0-3; Jordana Milne 4-2-3; Emily Erickson 2-1-2; Christina Souza 2-0-1; Totals 42-8-8.5. (Assists) - Christina Souza 40. (Dig leaders) - Nicole Hall 24; Rachel Cockrell 17; Taylor Pischke 13; Danika Picklyk 11 Martlets (Kills-aces-blocks) - Genevieve Plante 16-1-3; Marie-C. Lapointe 9-1-2; Catherine Amyot 8-0-0; Ashley Norfleet 7-0-3; Virginie Hebert 5-0-0; Marcela Mansure 4-1-1; Rebecca Canam 0-1-0; Totals 49-4-7.5. (Assists) - Marcela Mansure 40. (Dig leaders) - Genevieve Plante 24; Marie-C. Lapointe 21; Catherine Amyot 17; Alexandra Kobza 12; Marcela Mansure 10 Site: Montreal, QC (LoveCompetitionHall) Date: 01/03/2013 Attend: 36 Time: 1:48 Referees: Martin Kingsbury, Serge Theriault

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman,
McGill Sports Info Office
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
514-398-7012