TORONTO (January 30, 2016) – After five competitive sets the Gaels (8-7) fell 3-2 (25-27, 27-29, 25-16, 26-24, 15-12) against the Ryerson Rams (11-2) on Saturday night in Toronto.

Caroline Livingston (Kelowna, B.C.) and Shannon Neville (Cambridge, Ont.) were leaders for the Gaels with Livingston finishing with 20 kills and 12 digs while Neville contributed 19 kills and 21 digs of her own. Libero Becky Wilson (Pickering, Ont.) matched Neville with 21 digs in the match.

For the hosts, it was Caroline's older sister Veronica Livingston with a big night as she put down 20 kills and picked up 14 digs. Julie Longman headed the defensive front for the Rams with her 22 digs.

GAME FLOW
The Rams were quick to get the play started in their favour, getting ahead early to lead 16-11 at the first technical timeout. As the set continued the Gaels found their footing and pushed ahead to overtake the Rams and fight off three set points, taking the first set 27-25.  

In the second the Gaels were the first to grab the lead although the Rams kept close behind only trailing by a 16-14 deficit. Following the break it was a battle until the last point with a tied score at 20 points. The Gaels still managed to seal the second set with a serving ace from Shannon Hopkins (North Vancouver, B.C.) after four set points to go up 2-0.   

The hosts turned the tables on the Gaels in the third and blew through the first half grabbing a 16-6 lead by the technical timeout. The Gaels gained some momentum later in the set, cutting the Rams lead to 20-14, however, Ryerson maintained their advantage to put away a 25-16 set win.  

The fourth featured more tough battles for dominance as the Gaels grabbed one point advantage by the technical timeout, only to have Ryerson pull off a 26-24 final score to tie the match up at 2-2 and push it into a final deciding set.  

Ryerson had to fight for their win as the Gaels pulled out all the stops to try and regain their momentum from early in the match. Although the set was tied at 12-12 the Rams put away back to back kills and, off a Queen's attack error, topped off their 3-2 comeback win 15-13 over the Gaels in the final set.  

BY THE NUMBERS
3 – Serving aces from Hopkins for Queen's.
55 – Assists by first year setter Franzi Wilhelm (Lichtenstein, Germany) for Queen's.
0.367 – Ryerson's efficiency in the third set that kicked off their three set comeback.
2 - Livingston sisters, Caroline with Queen's and Veronica with Ryerson

UP NEXT
Next week the Gaels will continue their OUA season in St. Catharines where they will play the Brock Badgers on Friday, February 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm in the Bob Davis Gymnasium.