MONTREAL -- Claire Vercheval of Ste. Julie, Que., scored a game-high 18 points and was one of five Martlets to reach double digits in scoring as seventh-ranked McGill defeated No.9 Laval 3-1 in RSEQ women's volleyball at Love Competition Hall, Saturday. Laval took the first set 26-24 but the Martlets rallied to win the next three, 25-19, 25-9 and 25-22, respectively.
 
The result avenged a 3-0 loss to Laval in Quebec City on Nov. 4 -- the only blemish for the Martlets thus far -- as McGill improved their record to 8-1 atop the RSEQ conference. They sit six points ahead of Laval (5-3) and Montreal (5-3) in the five-team Quebec league.
 
"We served really well, blocked well and hit well, putting a lot of pressure on them offensively, " said Martlet head coach Rachele Beliveau of the back-and-forth affair that took an hour and 45 minutes to play. "We didn't sit back and play too defensive but took charge of our game."
 
McGill had a 51-39 margin in kills, a 60-59 advantage in digs and a 9-6 edge in stuff blocks.

"This team is improving and we don't need to worry about results (like losing the opening set) but need to focus on what we are doing and where we can improve," added Beliveau. "We need to focus on the task rather than looking at the result and that's what we did today."
 
Vercheval, a 6-foot-1 power-hitter, earned her points with 13 kills and five service aces, to go along with seven digs. The 21-year-old physical education junior .

She was joined on the scoresheet by rookie Charlene Robitaille of Mont St. Gregoire, Que., fifth-year veteran Emilie Matte De Grasse of Montreal, senior Mila Krunic of Oakville, Ont., and Rowan Fletcher, a junior from Ottawa, who registered 16, 14, 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Ariane Lavoie-Boutin , a mechanical engineering senior from La Prairie, Que., contributed eight digs and led McGill with a 2.29 passing ratio out of 3. Setter Andreanne Tremblay, a sophomore from Longueuil, Que., racked up a game-high 38 assists to go along with 11 digs, five aces, one kill and one stuff block.
 
Laval had three players in double figures, led by Maud Chapleau with 12, followed by Anne-Sophie Tanguay (11.5) and Marianne St-Aubin (10).
 
McGill (8-1) plays Montreal (5-3) at the Centre CEPSUM on Friday, Nov. 23, tip-off slated for 6 p.m.
 
Laval (5-3) returns to the court on Nov. 24, when they will play host to winless Ottawa (0-7).