KINGSTON, Ont. (January 10, 2015) – This Saturday the Gaels (9-3) kick-started the second half of their 2014-15 season by winning their sixth consecutive game against the Nipissing Lakers (3-8) taking the match in four sets 3-1 with set scores 25-14, 25-15, 23-25 and 25-14. 
 
The Gaels took an early lead in the first set as the Lakers made five consecutive attacking errors.  As a whole Queen's led a strong offensive attack against Nipissing while Shannon Neville (Camebridge, Ont.) and Becky Wilson (Pickering, Ont.) stopped the Lakers attack as each player made eight digs.  The Gaels pulled away at the 14-point mark and Brett Hagarty (Aurora, Ont.) finished the set for Queen's with a kill making it 25-14.
 
Brett opened the second set with a kill from the left side of the court.  The play went back-and-forth between the two teams until the seven-point mark where the Gaels managed to take the lead.  Shannon Hopkins (North Vancouver, B.C.), who subbed in halfway through the set and Brett Hagarty led the left side attack for Queens.  The Gaels finished the set on a four-point streak as Hopkins sealed the deal with a deep serve that was too much for the Lakers to handle, Queens took it 25-15.
 
Nippising opened the scoring in the third set with a kill from Lakers player Brittany Ardon.  The Gaels took an early lead but the Lakers managed to close down the three-point gap to tie it up and take the lead at the 15-point mark.  Once again, scoring went back-and-forth between the two teams but four consecutive points for Nipissing brought them to game point with a three point advantage.  Despite the Gaels efforts to make a comeback, the Lakers took the set 25-23.
 
Even though it was the Lakers opening the scoring in the final set, Queen's quickly grabbed the lead and maintained a three-point advantage.  The Gaels pulled away from the Lakers after strong attacking efforts by Hopkins and Niki Slikboer (Seagrave, Ont.).  Queen's finished the set 25-14 with two back-to-back serving aces from Brett Hagarty.
 
The top scorer of todays match was Brett Hagarty with 16 kills, three serving aces and 19 digs.  Not too far behind was Hopkins with 10 kills, one serving ace and nine digs.
 
The Gaels are back in action tomorrow at 1pm against the York Lions in the ARC main gym.