MONTREAL – Sophomore Myriam Robitaille registered a game-high 17.5 points but it was insufficient as the fourth-ranked McGill women's volleyball team fell 3-2 to the No.7 Carabins at the Centre CEPSUM, Friday.

The result put a halt to McGill's 11-game win streak, seven of them in regular season play. Montreal (8-1) now sits alone atop the RSEQ standings with 16 points while McGill (7-1) falls two points behind with a game in hand. 
 
It was a thrilling five-set match between the crosstown rivals with UdeM prevailing by set scores of 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19 and 15-12.  The third set was a heart-thumping thriller with the Martlets scoring seven unanswered points to come back from a 24-19 deficit.
 
"Both teams played great tonight," said McGill head coach Rachele Beliveau. "It was a hard-fought match but a tough loss as I thought we had them but just let the game get away from us down the stretch."
 
Robitaille, a six-foot middle-blocker from Terrebonne, Que., led the McGill attack with 12 kills and five stuff blocks. Fourth-year power-hitter Catherine Amyot finished with 12.5 points, in addition to an impressive 11 digs, while second-year outside-hitter Emilie Matte de Grasse put up 11.5 points. Teammate Yasmeen Dawoodjee, the starting setter, led both sides with 41 assists.
 
McGill had a 45-40 edge in kills but were outplayed on the defensive side by the Carabins who had an impressive 78-51 advantage in digs and a 16-12 difference in blocks. Montreal was also stronger in the serve department, with an 8-7 margin in aces and five less service errors with eight compared to the Martlets 13.
 
"Usually we serve tough," added Beliveau "Tonight we just made too many mistakes on the serve and that was really the difference in the game."
 
The Carabins had a strong pair of efforts from Vicky Savard and Marie-Alex Belanger, who notched 17.5 and 16 points, respectively.
 
McGill will have to bounce back quick as they are set to take on their other crosstown rival UQAM on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Love Competition Hall.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
 
Ryne Bondy
or
Earl Zukerman
Communications Office
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
 
SEE COMPLETE McGILL VARSITY SCHEDULE ONLINE AT:
www.mcgillathletics.ca/calendar.aspx