MONTREAL -- Claire Vercheval scored a game-high 17 points but it wasn't enough as second-seeded Laval swept McGill 25-17, 25-18 and 25-23 to win their RSEQ women's volleyball semifinal 2-0, at Love Competition Hall on Saturday. The Rouge et Or won the series opener 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion on Friday in Quebec City, after trailing 2-0. It was a crushing defeat that appeared to cast a gloomy shadow over the Martlets in Game 2. After all, McGill had won three of four regular season meetings with their provincial rivals, including both road games in Quebec City.

"The balls that you really need to be controlling your emotions for, are tougher to play in situations like tonight," said McGill head coach Rachele Beliveau. "Our serve reception, for instance, was a little bit unstable today and even though we usually serve well, it took a while for us to adjust and have steady serves."

The loss put an end to the Martlets' season, leaving them with a 23-16 overall record, including a 10-10 third-place finish in a much-improved RSEQ conference, with just two wins separating second place from fifth in the six-team league. The Rouge et Or will advance to face Montreal in the conference final. The top-seeded Carabins swept their series over fourth-place Sherbrooke with a pair of 3-1 victories.

McGill had a 25-13 advantage in kills, a 28-13 margin in digs and a slight 9.5 to 9 edge in blocks, while the Rouge et Or served 10 aces to McGill's four.

Vercheval, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Ste. Julie, Que., led all players with 16 kills and one stuff block, to go along with three digs.

Teammate Myriam Robitaille of Terrebonne, Que., chipped in 11 points for the Martlets, on the strength of seven kills, a pair of service aces and two stuff blocks. Erika Cournoyer of Longueuil, Que., registered three kills and six stuff blocks and had one dig. Elisabeth Perrault, a rookie from Laval, Que., notched 5.5 points with five kills and a block and managed three digs on defence. Emilie Matte de Grasse of Montreal had four points, all from kills, and as many digs.

Alyssa Fields and Alice Cloutier each recorded nine points to pace Laval.

"I see a lot of positives for our young group," added Beliveau of her squad that featured 11 of 18 players in their first or second year, with 17 expected to return.

"We wanted our young kids to really feel what university volleyball is about and we gave many of them a lot of playing time. The progression after Christmas was really incredible. Compared to the first semester, our second half was really good. Now they know what it is like to play at this level and it's a matter of just stabilizing and solidifying everything.

"Offensively, defensively, fighting and blocking, the base is there," Beliveau noted. "It's just going to be a matter of learning to finish the game when we can and that will come with experience. I only see positive things to build up from this group."

McGill;s only expected loss to graduation is Marie-Eve Dorion, a 5-foot-9 power-hitter from St. Hubert, Que., whose brother Marc-Andre Dorion starred along the blueline for the men's hockey team a few years ago. She served up an ace and had three digs in her final match.

"Marie-Eve did a good job tonight," said Beliveau of the 23-year-old physical education senior. "She came in and stabilized the serve receive, stabilized the defence. Her four years sure went fast."