QUEBEC CITY -- Veteran Myriam Robitaille scored a season-high 21.5 points but it was insufficient as McGill dropped a heart-breaking 3-2 setback against division-leading Laval, Sunday, at the Centre PEPS. In an epic confrontation that took two hours and six minutes, the Rouge et Or rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win by set scores of 25-17, 17-25, 20-25, 25-19 and 15-12.

The result halted McGill's five-game win streak and dashed their playoff hopes. With one game remaining on their schedule -- at fourth-seeded Sherbrooke -- the fifth-place Martlets (9-10) can only tie the Vert & Or (10-8) for the final playoff spot but the troupe from the Townships holds the tie-breaker with a 3-0 record over McGill in head-to-head play.

"It was a good battle, all the way to the end," said McGill head coach Rachele Beliveau. "We made a couple of costly mistakes in the fourth set and were a little tired in the fifth set. Laval played really well and took advantage of that, forced us to move around a lot with their ball placement. The door was open for us (with a 2-1 lead) and we couldn't finish it. But we fought all the way to the end."

The post-game tale of the tape proved to be a coin toss between the provincial rivals. Laval had the slightest of edges in five of the main statistical categories: total points scored (77-75), kills (62-59), service aces (6-5), assists (58-54) and digs (101-100). McGill had an advantage in stuff blocks (11-9) and a scant margin in kill percentage (19.8 to 18.0).

Robitaille, a fifth-year senior who returned to work on a master's degree after a one-year sabbatical, registered her points on 16 kills, 3.5 blocks and a pair of aces. The six-foot middle blocker from Terrebonne, Que., added five digs and three assists.

She was one of four McGillians to reach double-digits in scoring, along with Claire Vercheval (16), Elisabeth Perrault (13.5) and Charlene Robitaille (10.5).

McGill's lofty numbers were matched by Laval's dynamic duo of Maud Chapleau (22.5 pts) and Marianne St-Aubin (20 pts), who were buttressed by a 16.5-point performance from teammate Anne-Sophie Tanguay.

McGill's 9-10 record included a 1-3 mark against Laval, 2-2 versus Montreal, 2-2 vs. UQAM, 4-0 vs. Ottawa and 0-3 vs Sherbrooke. The Martlets will get one more shot to salvage a win against the Vert & Or, when they close out their schedule at Sherbrooke on Valentine's Day. It's a safe assumption that the Martlets will arrive in ill-humour, with a mission to accomplish.

"It's a very tough, competitive league and this year, only one Quebec team advances to nationals," noted Beliveau, who explained that the top three teams at the Final Eight tournament each earn an extra berth for their conference at the following season's championship. "Our last two matches were significantly at a higher level than any others that we played in our (extensive) non-conference schedule. We had a pretty good run down the stretch after a rough first semester. Our one remaining objective is to finish the season strong in Sherbrooke, to make a statement and set the tone for next season."

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