KINGSTON, Ont. (January 17, 2010) – The Queen's Gaels women's volleyball team earned a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the York Lions on Sunday afternoon in the first varsity event in the Athletics & Recreation Centre (ARC).
After falling behind two sets to none, the Gaels fought back to win the next three sets to ensure the home team was victorious on their new court.
The first set provided a glimpse of things-to-come as York and Queen's battled back-and-forth for the entire set. The Lions earned four straight set points but the Gaels held tough and denied each one. Finally, leading 28-27, York was able to convert and take the first set.
The dropped set seemed to impact the Gaels mentality and they struggled to regain their form from the first set. The Lions took a 16-13 lead at the second technical timeout and never looked back as they took the second set 25-17.
In the third set, the Lions appeared poised to sweep the match in three sets, leading the Gaels 16-14 at the second technical timeout. However, a spirited rally by the Gaels extended the match as they came back to take the set 25-19.
The fourth set was once again a back-and-forth affair, with the two teams trading the lead. Queen's would pull away late in the set and led 24-20. With four set points, the Gaels would need each one as York forced the match to 24-23. The deciding point in the set at first appeared to go York's way on a kill. However, the Lions were called for a net violation to force a fifth-and-deciding set.
Both teams came out swinging in the final set with
Elyssa Heller of Highland Park, Ill., and
Natalie Gray of Oshawa, Ont., leading the charge for Queen's. With an 11-10 lead, the Gaels pulled away, seizing energy from a large crowd to take the final set 15-11.
Heller, who was named the player of the game for the Gaels, finished with 11 kills, 18 digs and two service aces. Gray led all players in the match with 19 kills and also picked up 14 digs.
Kristina Vicek of Toronto and Sarah Sutton of Scarborough, Ont., were the leading scorers for the Lions, with Vicek picking up 23 points on 16 kills and Sutton recording 17 points on 16 kills.
The victory moves the Gaels into a tie with the Lions for second in the OUA East. Both teams have seven victories on the season but the Lions (7-4) have a game-in-hand over Queen's (7-5).
The Gaels continue their home stand next Friday night when they take on the Ottawa Gee Gees. Game time is set for 6:00 pm in the Main Gym of the ARC.
