Michael Parkinson

Gaels eliminated by Varsity Blues 3-1

2/16/2013 8:25:00 AM | By: Posted by: Dylan Plain (Sports Information Writer)

BOX SCORE KINGSTON, Ont. (February 16, 2013) – The Queen's Gaels women's volleyball team was in action Saturday evening against the Toronto Varsity Blues, in OUA Quarterfinal action that saw the Gaels be upset by the five seed Varsity Blues, 3-1 (28-30,25-23,27-29,13-25).

The Gaels wasted no time showing their strong defensive play with Katie Neville (Cambridge, Ont.) ending a long rally with a commanding block upfront early in the first. Both teams proceeded to exchange points, capitalizing on each others errors, until Toronto was able to build a three point lead midway through the first frame. The Gaels took a timeout to halt the Varsity Blues momentum; however Toronto was able to rally off a 5-2 run after the time-out. Queen's climbed back in the set with continued strong defensive play and Varsity Blue's errors. A well placed kill from Kelsey Bishop (North Vancouver, B.C.) brought the Gaels within one, 15-14. Brett Hagarty (Aurora, Ont.) and Bishop combined for a crucial block to draw Queen's even. In the next rally, Brett Hagarty's fourth kill of the set gave the Gaels a 17-16 lead. The Queen's rookie left-side continued her first set dominance scoring two key points to give the Gaels the lead late, 21-19. Toronto was able to draw even with Queen's, eventually forcing extra points where the Varsity Blues eventually beat Queen's stingy defense closing out the set 30-28.

Queen's was able to build some momentum early in the second, finding many holes in Toronto's defense, building an impressive 12-3 run midway through the set. Colleen Ogilvie (Calgary) and Brett Hagarty were commanding for the Gaels in the second, recording five and three kills respectively, while also combining on a block. Despite the massive lead Queen's built in the second, offensive errors allowed Toronto to pull back in the set, drawing as close as 24-23. The Varsity Blues late set heroics were put to an end with a service error, ending the set in the Gaels favour 25-23.

Bishop was able to make a statement early in the third for the Gaels putting up three early points to give Queen's a slim 12-10 set lead. This lead was short lived however as a stingy Toronto front line and Queen's errors allowed the Blues to take a 18-15 lead late in the frame. Toronto continued their late set push with Charlotte Sider (Ottawa) pitching in four points, while Sarah Chapin (Georgetown, Ont.) added two to help the Blues take a 24-22 lead. Back-to-back kills from Brett Hagarty allowed the Gaels to draw even at 24 to push extra points. Both teams exchanged points until Toronto was able to pull ahead from timely offensive productivity. Unfortunately Queen's could not rally back and a Shannon Rossall (Calgary) kill closed out the set 29-27 in the Blues favour, to give them a 2-1 set lead.

Attacking errors from the Gaels early in the fourth set allowed Toronto to build an early 3-0 lead. Queen's continued to give the Blues easy points with attacking errors, while back-to-back kills from Toronto left-side Caleigh Cruickshank (Etobicoke, Ont.) helped the Blues build a 14-8 lead mid-way through the set. Queen's veteran Ogilvie was able to put a couple much needed points on the board for the Gaels, heading into the technical timeout trailing 16-10. Toronto continued to build on their lead, hitting well placed balls onto Queen's floor. The Blues never looked back in the fourth, cruising to a 25-13 set lead to close out the match 3-1, and moving on to the OUA Final Four Tournament hosted by the York Lions.

OUA Women's Volleyball

CURRENT MATCHUP