KINGSTON, Ont. (November 5, 2016) - The Gaels (2-1) were 3-1 winners Saturday night at the ARC, defeating the Toronto Varsity Blues (0-3) with scores of 25-23, 23-25, 25-15, and 25-23.
 
GAME FLOW
The Gaels trailed early in the opening set, but ignited the crowd with a thrilling comeback. Toronto enjoyed a 16-12 lead at the technical timeout, but that's when Markus Trence (Orangeville, Ont.) roared into action. The fourth-year veteran pounded nine kills in the first to help the tricolour comeback. With the set tied 23-23, Trence sent a pair of well-placed tips over the net to close out the set 25-23 in the Gaels favour.

MUST SEE - Gaels take the first set against Toronto with a great tip from Markus Trence. pic.twitter.com/ltzeAduLsU

— #ChaGheill (@queensgaels) November 6, 2016

 
In the second, it was Queen's that led at the technical timeout, up 16-13, and it was Toronto's turn to mount a comeback. William Colucci strung together six kills in the set to lead the Varsity Blues offence in the middle stanza. Despite more good play from Trence and the consistent support of Zac Hutcheson (Kingston, Ont.), the set ended with an identical 25-23 scoreline, but it was Toronto in front to tie the match at 1-1.
 
Queen's dominated the third set, coming away with a 25-15 win thanks in large part to second-year Hutcheson. The outside hitter doubled his kill total, with eight in the third set alone and no attacking errors through the opening three sets.
 
The fourth set brought back the competitive action from the first two. Two service aces from Toronto's Ken Dobson deflated an excitable crowd at the ARC. The Gaels hitters had the tricolour faithful back on their feet in no time, with Trence finding seven more kills in the final set. Joel Rudd (Cambridge, Ont.) also contributed three timely kills in the set, bringing his total to 10. With four more kills in the final frame, Hutcheson finished the night with an even 20 for a new career high. Queen's stepped up on defence as well to ensure the game didn't make it to a fifth set, collecting three points from their blockers. The match ended on one of Toronto's seven attacking errors in the set, as the ball sailed out of bounds to secure another 25-23 win for Queen's.
 
Local product Jamie Wright (Kingston, Ont.) was nearly perfect as the Gaels setter, earning 56 of the team's 58 assists. Trence finished the day with 19 kills and 23 points, including three aces and another point from his blocks. In addition to his standout night on offence, Hutcheson ended the match with a game-high 10 digs.
 
Colucci finished with a team-high 17 kills and 20.5 points for Toronto.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
0 - Zac Hutcheson had zero attacking errors in the match
40 - Markus Trence totalled 40 kills this weekend
3rd and 4th - Gaels Trence and Hutcheson are third and fourth in the OUA kill department
 
UP NEXT
Queen's is home to Windsor at 8pm on Remembrance Day at the ARC.