MONTREAL -- Emilie Matte De Grasse scored a game-high 18 points as fifth-ranked McGill rallied from an opening set loss to defeat the No.9 Université de Montréal 3-1 in Game 1 of the RSEQ women's volleyball league championship best-of-three series, Friday. UdeM took the first set 25-18 but McGill roared back to win 25-14, 25-21 and 26-24.

The opener drew a record crowd of 392 at D. Love Competition Hall -- the largest crowd in McGill volleyball history -- and happened in the midst of Study Break, when most students scatter for a week of sun and fun in a southern climate.

The top-seeded Martlets can win their first-ever Quebec volleyball crown with a road victory in Game 2 at the Centre CEPSUM on Saturday at 5 p.m. If a rubber match is needed, it will be back at Love Competition Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m.

McGill had statistical advantages in kills (42-40), service aces (10-4) and stuff blocks (10-7). The Carabins, who had a 45-43 margin in digs, committed 20 errors on their attempted kills, compared to only 13 by McGill.
 
"We started a little tight, not communicating as well as we wanted in the first set, but we built up to what we needed to do in the following sets," said Martlet head coach Rachele Beliveau, who was named last week as coach of the year in the Quebec conference. "We started talking, building confidence, working together as a team and relying on each other. I was pleased (to see that response) because we have the type of team that can come back when we fall behind."
 
Matte De Grasse, a 5-foot-10 power-hitter from Montreal, tallied 16 kills to go along with one service ace and a pair of assisted blocks. The fifth-year physical education senior also added six digs.
 
"It was a good game for Emilie, both offensively and defensively, she was especially solid in passing and defence," noted Beliveau. "Often a fifth-year player is not as patient but she has worked a lot and it has paid off."
 
Senior Mila Krunic of Oakville, Ont., and freshman Charlene Robitaille from St. Jean, Que., both contributed 10 points for McGill. Claire Vercheval, a physical education junior from Ste. Julie, Que., who was named player of the year in the league, added nine points -- on seven kills and a pair of aces -- in addition to seven digs.

Andreanne Tremblay, a sophomore setter from Longueuil, Que., posted game-highs in both assists (31) and aces (3).
 
Leading the Carabins was Maude Babin with 13 kills and two aces, while Adryanna Dorismond-Rodrigue has 11 points.

The Carabins, who finished second in the league with a 13-7 record, are now 2-2 in the post-season. Both of their losses happened after winning the first set.
 
"The more you win the more you have confidence in winning," said Beliveau, who has guided her troops to a 17-3 record in the regular season and a 3-1 mark in post-season play. "At the beginning of the season, we had high expectations on the number of wins we wanted to have but I felt like we were not sure we could do it. Now the girls believe they can do it."
 
"Every team in our league competes hard... Every game we won this year we had to show up and I think that may give Quebec teams an advantage over some other conferences (at the nationals) because every game we played was difficult. We had to fight for every win"

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