MONTREAL -- Rookie Charlene Robitaille of St. Gregoire, Que., scored a team-high 13 points as sixth-ranked McGill extended their win streak to five with a 3-1 victory over No. 8 Montreal in a key RSEQ women's volleyball confrontation at the Centre CEPSUM, Sunday. The set scores were 25-19, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-23.
 
It was the third win in four regular season meetings against their cross-town rivals, marking their first road win at UdeM since a 3-2 victory on Jan. 23, 2015. The result was only McGill's third-ever road conquest on UdeM turf and gave the visitors their first season series victory in team history over the Carabins, who dropped to 11-5.
 
McGill improved to 14-3 atop the RSEQ league standings and their magic number to clinch first place is down to one win. With only three games remaining, any combination of McGill wins or Montreal losses equaling one, will assure the regular season pennant for only the second time in school history. The last time McGill claimed first in the Quebec conference was in the 2001-02 season.
 
"We are playing with more confidence and patience," said Rachele Beliveau, in her 28th season as McGill head coach. "We passed well today (1.92 on a scale of 3), Montreal is a very good serving team but we were efficient at blocking and our defence was great."
 
Robitaille, a 20-year-old science freshman, earned her points on the strength of seven kills, a four stuff blocks and a pair of aces. The six-foot middle blocker also chipped in three digs and a pair of assists.

Claire Vercheval, a 6-foot-1 power-hitter, earned 12.5 points on the strength of 10 kills, three assisted blocks and an ace. The physical education junior from Ste. Julie, Que., also contributed eight digs and an assist.
 
Other leading scorers for McGill were senior Mila Krunic (10.5 pts) of Oakville, Ont. and sophomore Andreanne Tremblay (10 pts) from Longueuil, Que. Tremblay, a 5-foot-10 setter from Longueuil, Que., had arguably her best all-round game of the season. The 21-year-old occupational therapy major also registered 27 assists, to go along with a team-high 17 digs, four kills, three aces and three blocks.
 
"It was a real team victory today," noted Béliveau. "It's different playing Montreal, they are bigger and have tall blockers, so offensively we have to be placing the ball carefully, so we can't hit the ball with as much power as we do against other teams. Overall we are playing very well together."
 
Montreal was led by Adryanna Dorismond-Rodrigue with 19.5 points, followed by Marie-Pierre Cholette (11) and Marianne Boulanger (10.5).
 
Both teams return to the court on Friday, Feb. 8, Montreal (11-5) travels to UQAM (8-8), while McGill (14-3) hosts Laval (10-7) at Love Competition Hall, in a 6:30 p.m.start.