MONTREAL --
Gabrielle Cloutier scored 13.5 points as fifth-place UQAM stunned division-leading McGill 3-1 in RSEQ women's volleyball at Love Competition Hall, Sunday. The set scores were 25-17, 25-17, 23-25 and 25-21.
The Citadins (5-7) improved their head-to-head season series against the Martlets to 1-2, including a 1-1 record at the McGill Invitational Tournament. UQAM had statistical advantages in kills (46-44) and service aces (10-5) however the Martlets, who are ranked No.7 in the nation, led in digs (84-75) and stuff blocks (7-4).
"This was a tough game, I don't think we were there (mentally) or prepared to play," admitted McGill head coach
Rachele Beliveau. "By the time we got into it, the Citadins were playing with confidence and we kept trying to catch up after them. It's hard to gain confidence when the ball isn't going in your favour."
Claire Vercheval, a 6-foot-1 junior power-hitter from St. Julie, Que., scored a game-high 16.5 points in the losing effort for the Martlets including 15 kills, one ace and an assisted block. She also tallied a team-high 15 digs. Freshman starter
Charlene Robitaille, a middle blocker from Mont St. Gregoire, Que., added eight kills, five blocks and a pair of aces, along with seven digs. Montrealer
Emilie Matte De Grasse, a fifth-year power-hitter, contributed six kills, two blocks, an ace and 13 digs..
"We fought and came back in the third set and played okay in the fourth up to when the score was 20-20, and then we started to make mistakes that were unforgiving. Those mistakes really hurt us," said a disappointed Beliveau. "We can't take for granted when playing a team that we should beat on paper. When you take it for granted, you are not prepared. "
Cloutier paced the Citadins with eight kills, three aces, 2.5 blocks and three digs. She was one of four teammates to reach double figures in points.
Maggie Beausejour and
Frederique Nicole added 12 and 11 points, respectively, while
Josiane Aubuchon had 10.
Evy Carpentier, a sophomore libero, racked up a game-high 27 digs to help stifle the Martlets offence.
UQAM (5-7) returns to the court on Jan. 18, when they head across town to the Centre CEPSUM to play second-place Montreal (8-3). McGill (9-3) travels to Quebec City on Jan. 19 to play third-place Laval (8-4), the return home to host Montreal on Sunday at 2 p.m.
2018-19 RSEQ Women's Volleyball Standings
| 1 |
McGill |
12 |
9 |
3 |
29 |
17 |
1052 |
956 |
0.750 |
0.0 |
18 |
| 2 |
Montréal |
11 |
8 |
3 |
25 |
16 |
914 |
856 |
0.727 |
0.5 |
16 |
| 3 |
Laval |
12 |
8 |
4 |
28 |
19 |
1052 |
1049 |
0.667 |
1.0 |
16 |
| 4 |
UQAM |
12 |
5 |
7 |
24 |
25 |
1111 |
1054 |
0.417 |
4.0 |
10 |
| 5 |
Sherbrooke |
12 |
4 |
8 |
22 |
29 |
1077 |
1122 |
0.333 |
5.0 |
8 |
| 6 |
Ottawa |
11 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
32 |
842 |
1011 |
0.091 |
7.5 |
2 |
