MONTREAL --
Erika Cournoyer of Longueuil, Que., tallied 16 points as eighth-ranked McGill rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat No. 10 Laval 3-1 in RSEQ women's volleyball, Sunday, at Love Competition Hall. After dropping the first set 22-25, McGill roared back to win 25-18, 25-23 and 25-21.
It was the sixth consecutive victory in league play for the Martlets, one shy of the school record streak set way back in 2005-06 and equalled the following campaign. McGill has now won all three meetings with the Rouge et Or this season after being swept by Laval in the conference semifinals last spring. The provincial rivals are slated to cross paths once more, on Feb. 2 at Quebec City.
The Martlets posted a massive 15-4 advantage in service aces, doubled their guests 12-6 in blocks and held a slim 54-53 margin in digs, while Laval had a narrow 44-43 edge in kills.
"They started really well," said head coach
Rachele Beliveau whose lifetime record behind the McGill bench improved to 599-520-2 in 1,121 games overall. "But we started to play better and improved as it went on. We gained more confidence and were a bit more relaxed. We still had to play hard until the end, but it wasn't as tense as the beginning.
"I liked the effort," she added. "I like the fact that the team is always looking forward. If we have a bad sequence we're able to bounce back -- we did it twice this week -- and those are the things that you like to see. Never quitting in the game."
Cournoyer, a six-foot-middle blocker, earned her points on the strength of seven kills, five aces, three stuff blocks and two assisted blocks. She also had a pair of assists and a dig.
It was the second-best offensive output of the season for the fifth-year industrial relations senior who tallied 18.5 points in a 3-2 victory against Laval on Nov. 26.
"She played very well in all aspects," Beliveau noted. "Big blocks, a great serving game and tough defence. She played really well, was very intense and aggressive in all the phases of the game."
Team captain
Myriam Robitaille of Terrebonne, Que., followed with 14 points. The French language and literature senior recorded nine kills, one ace, a pair of stuff blocks and four assisted blocks, along with four digs and three assists.
Sophomore
Claire Vercheval of Ste. Julie, Que., also reached double-figures with 13.5 points. The 6-foot-1 power hitter registered a dozen kills, an ace and an assisted block, as well as eight digs.
Sophomore
Rowan Fletcher of Montreal scored eight points, courtesy of five kills, an ace, one stuff block and two assisted blocks. She also had nine digs and two assists.
Libero
Marjolaine Ste-Marie of St. Lambert, Que., posted a game-high 14 digs. Setter
Catherine Duchaine, a 5-foot-8 sophomore from Montreal, racked up 32 assists and 10 digs, and had one kill and three aces.
Laval was paced by
Maud Chapleau, who had 11 points.
McGill (11-2) next visits UQAM (3-10) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. The Rouge et Or (8-5) play Sherbrooke (2-10) on Friday, Jan. 16.
| 2017-18 RSEQ Women's Volleyball Standings • Classement de la saison régulière du voleyball |
|
|
| 1 |
Montréal |
13 |
11 |
2 |
33 |
15 |
1113 |
942 |
0.846 |
0.0 |
22 |
| 2 |
McGill |
13 |
11 |
2 |
34 |
13 |
1097 |
986 |
0.846 |
0.0 |
22 |
| 3 |
Laval |
13 |
8 |
5 |
31 |
19 |
1133 |
1059 |
0.615 |
3.0 |
16 |
| 4 |
Sherbrooke |
13 |
3 |
10 |
17 |
33 |
1036 |
1147 |
0.231 |
8.0 |
6 |
| 5 |
UQAM |
13 |
3 |
10 |
20 |
34 |
1070 |
1207 |
0.231 |
8.0 |
6 |
| 6 |
Ottawa |
13 |
3 |
10 |
15 |
36 |
1047 |
1155 |
0.231 |
8.0 |
6 |
