MONTREAL --
Myriam Robitaille of Terrebonne, Que., scored 23.5 points as McGill rallied to upset 10th-ranked Laval 3-2 in RSEQ women's volleyball, Friday, at Love Competition Hall. Set scores for the one hour, 57-minute marathon were 25-15, 20-25, 25-18, 22-25 and 18-16.
McGill wore pink uniforms for the match, which was the Martlets' annual "Pink Week - Dig for the Cure" fundraiser in support of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. The event featured a combined 99 digs, including 58 by the hosts. Although total fundraising figures are not yet in, the contest raised over $750.
McGill also took a 2-1 lead in the season series over the second-place Rouge et Or, with one meeting remaining.
"We played a lot more aggressive, both offensively and defensively" said Martlets head coach
Rachele Beliveau. "We did a very good job on defence. They wanted to dig a lot of balls for the "Dig for the Cure" fundraiser and they know now that if they really want it, they can dig more balls than before.
"We also played with more patience," Beliveau added. "We believed more in what we're capable of doing-- in the fifth set we were behind 10-13 before making a comeback to win."
Robitaille, a six-foot middle blocker, earned her points on the strength of 14 kills, an ace, six stuff blocks and five assisted blocks. The French language and literature junior also contributed a pair of digs and an assist.
Claire Vercheval, a freshman from Ste. Julie, Que., followed with 17 points, courtesy of 13 kills, three aces and a block, along with 13 digs.
Emilie Matte de Grasse of Montreal earned 13.5 points with 13 kills and an assisted block in addition to one assist and seven digs. Freshman
Elisabeth Perrault of Montreal also reached double-digits with 13 points in her first career start, thanks to eight kills, an ace, three stuff blocks and two assisted blocks. She also chipped in eight digs.
Erika Cournoyer of Longueuil, Que., tallied 9.5 points, on four kills, an ace and 4.5 blocks, along with one dig.
Setter
Thara Dawoodjee of Ottawa scored 4.5 points with one kill, two stuff blocks and a trio of assisted blocks. She also contributed 11 digs and racked up a game-high 45 assists. Libero
Marjolaine Ste-Marie of St. Lambert, Que., posted a game-high 16 digs and added four assists.
Laval was led by
Maud Chapleau, who amassed 21 points with a match-high 17 kills, three aces and one block.
McGill had a 53-49 advantage in kills, while the Rouge et Or served up eight aces to the Martlets' six.
"We'll enjoy it tonight but have another big game tomorrow so we're trying to stay calm and focus on Saturday's game," noted Beliveau.
The Martlets (5-7) will travel to the nation's capital on Saturday (Jan. 21) for a key match-up with fourth-place Ottawa (5-6) at 3 p.m. Both teams are fighting for the fourth and final playoff berth and the Gee-Gees swept the first two league meetings with two left to play, so the Martlets will be looking for revenge. Laval (7-5) hosts division-leading Montreal (8-3) that same evening.
| 2016-17 RSEQ Women's Volleyball Standings (updated) • Classement de la saison régulière |
|
|
| 1 |
Montréal |
11 |
8 |
3 |
27 |
12 |
930 |
794 |
0.727 |
0.0 |
16 |
| 2 |
Laval |
12 |
7 |
5 |
26 |
20 |
1009 |
939 |
0.583 |
1.5 |
14 |
| 3 |
Sherbrooke |
11 |
6 |
5 |
23 |
20 |
921 |
920 |
0.545 |
2.0 |
12 |
| 4 |
Ottawa |
11 |
5 |
6 |
18 |
25 |
922 |
987 |
0.455 |
3.0 |
10 |
| 5 |
McGill |
12 |
5 |
7 |
23 |
28 |
1056 |
1113 |
0.417 |
3.5 |
10 |
| 6 |
UQAM |
11 |
3 |
8 |
14 |
26 |
824 |
909 |
0.273 |
5.0 |
6 |
