MONTREAL -- Claire Vercheval scored 16.5 points as McGill extended their win streak to five and kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 road victory over the Montreal Carabins in a women's volleyball thriller at the Centre CEPSUM, Saturday.

In a confrontation that took two hours and 33 minutes to play, the set scores were 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 26-28 and 15-13.

The result improved McGill's record to 9-9 with two games remaining and moved the Martlets into a tie for the last playoff berth -- in the RSEQ standings -- with Sherbrooke (9-8), which holds a game in hand. 

"We're had some spectacular games with the Carabins this season," said McGill head coach Rachele Beliveau, whose troops split their four meetings with UdeM. "We wanted to win this one in three straight because we have to prepare for a tough road game at Laval on Sunday.

"But Montreal is very good offensively and raised their level of play after the first two sets and reduced their mistakes. They rallied back to force a fifth set. The key to our victory today was that we played well as a team and we're playing very good volleyball right now. We fought hard and competed, played with a lot of maturity and confidence. Our team has progressed a lot in the second semester."

In the win over the Carabins, McGill had an edge in stuff blocks (11-8) but Montreal had the upper-hand in kills (57-45), digs (79-69) and assists (57-42). Both teams had 10 service aces.

Vercheval, a 6-foot-1 power-hitter from Ste. Julie, Que., scored her points on a team-high 15 kills, with one ace and an assisted block. The physical education senior added 11 digs and one assist.

Other teammates in double digits were sophomore Charlene Robitaille (13 pts) of St. Jean, Que., and Myriam Robitaille (11.5), a fifth-year middle blocker from Terrebonne, Que. The dynamic duo is not related.

Senior Rowan Fletcher, a right-side hitter from Montreal West, Que., registered 9.5 points to go along with 21 digs. "Her blocking and defence was outstanding today," noted Beliveau of the team captain.

Andreanne Tremblay, a 5-foot-10 setter, racked up 35 assists. The occupational therapy junior from Longueuil, Que., added 10 digs, two kills, three aces and three assisted blocks.

The host Carabins had three players in double figures, led by Maude Babin with 24 points, followed by Adryanna Dorismond (19) and Clemence Provost (13).

The Martlets must finish one win ahead of Sherbrooke to qualify for the post-season because the Vert & Or hold a tie-breaker over McGill, with a 3-0 record in head-to-head play. McGill concludes their campaign with a critical pair of road games at Laval (Feb. 9 at 4 pm) and Sherbrooke (Feb. 14).

Sherbrooke will close out their calendar with a game at Ottawa (Feb. 9), followed by home meetings with McGill (Feb.14) and Laval (Feb.16).

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RSEQ STANDINGS & STATS