GRADUATING SENIORS: (L to R): Myriam Robitaille, Marjolaine Ste-Marie, Erika Cournoyer (PHOTO BY DEREK DRUMMOND)

MONTREAL -- Florence Leblanc scored 12 points as fourth-place UQAM swept No.9-ranked McGill 25-22, 25-21 and 25-21, to put a damper on the Martlets' Seniors Night celebrations in RSEQ women's volleyball, Friday, at Love Competition Hall.

The loss was McGill's second in a row against the Citadins and just the fourth in 13 head-to-head meetings since UQAM joined the league two years ago.

After the game, the Martlets honoured their three graduating seniors: fifth-year middle blocker Erika Cournoyer of Longueuil, Que., fifth-year libero Marjolaine Ste-Marie of St. Lambert, Que., and team captain Myriam Robitaille, a fourth-year middle blocker from Terrebonne, Que.

"All three of them have contributed a lot to the program," said McGill head coach Rachele Beliveau. "It's going to be a big loss. Sadly, all players have to leave eventually. The toughest part is that when they finally learn how to play the game at this level (to the best of their abilities) is when they graduate. As they improve and start to reach their potential, their university careers are all over."

UQAM had a 35-26 advantage in kills and a 12-9 margin in service aces, while the Martlets had a 42-40 edge in digs. Both teams managed six blocks.

"I'm not surprised because UQAM is fighting for a place in the playoffs and I expected them to play us really hard tonight," Beliveau noted of her troops that have now dropped four of their last six  outings. "I still thought we would be able to overcome that, but they've been playing really well lately and it's not that we're not playing well, but we're not sharp enough. Right now we're easy to read -- the same patterns happen all the time -- so we're going to have to have a little bit more variation in our game and be less predictable in what we're doing. If a team like UQAM can be on top of us like this it's because they really know what we're doing now and we're going to have to make some adjustments."

Leblanc earned her points on the strength of 10 kills, one ace and a block. She also had six digs.

Three of her teammates -- Émilie Germain-Russel, Gabrielle Archambault and Frédérique Nicole -- followed with nine points spiece.

Robitaille led McGill's effort with a game-high 12.5 points, courtesy of six kills, five aces and three assisted blocks. She also had four digs and an assist. Sophomore Claire Vercheval of Ste. Julie, Que., also reached double-digits with 10.5 points. The 6-foot-1 power hitter had nine kills, an ace and a block to go with six digs.

The Martlets (13-6) wrap up their regular season on the road against the fifth-place Gee-Gees (4-14) at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 17). Ottawa is two wins shy of UQAM in the fourth and final playoff berth with two games left to play.

"We'll play that game as best as we can," said Beliveau. "Ottawa's still fighting for a playoff spot, they're at home and it's not going to be easy. We'll just have to overcome that."

Despite what the Gee-Gees do in their final two contests, UQAM (6-13) could clinch the final playoff spot, with an upset win at Laval (12-6) on Sunday evening.

 

2017-18 RSEQ Women's Volleyball Standings • Classement de la saison régulière de la RSEQ		Imprimer »

Pos	Équipe	MJ	V	D	SG	SP	PP	PC	MOY	Diff.	PTS
1	Montréal	19	17	2	51	20	1653	1379	0.895	0.0	34
2	McGill	19	13	6	44	27	1577	1510	0.684	4.0	26
3	Laval	18	12	6	45	28	1640	1534	0.667	4.5	24
4	UQAM	19	6	13	33	46	1617	1734	0.316	11.0	12
5	Sherbrooke	19	4	15	23	50	1516	1702	0.211	13.0	8
6	Ottawa	18	4	14	25	50	1530	1674	0.222	12.5	8

 

Calendrier de la saison régulière

F57	Sam	2018-02-17	14:00	McGill		Ottawa		U. d'Ottawa	Web
F58	Sam	2018-02-17	18:00	Sherbrooke		Laval		PEPS	Web
F59	Dim	2018-02-18	13:00	Ottawa		Montréal		CEPSUM	Web
F60	Dim	2018-02-18	18:30	UQAM		Laval		PEPS	Web