KINGSTON, Ont. (November 5, 2016) - Queen's (1-2) took a set off No.4 Toronto (3-0) before the Varsity Blues stormed back for the 3-1 victory, 19-25, 25-17, 25-16, and 25-17.
 
GAME FLOW
Queen's came out swinging in the first set against the nationally ranked team from Toronto, collecting the first point of the match to set the tone early. Victoria Wensley (Coquitlam , B.C.) led the Gaels offence in the early going, picking up five points on four kills and an ace in the opening set. The first set also saw an emphatic kill from Isabelle Birchall (Ottawa) on an errant pass from Toronto late in the first set to secure the 25-19 win for Queen's.
 
Toronto woke up in the second, more than doubling their attack percentage from the first. Reigning U Sports Rookie of the Year Alina Dormann led the charge for the Varsity Blues, sitting at 12 kills and 14.5 points through two sets. The Gaels offence stalled in the second set, as the tricolour only managed nine kills en route to a 25-17 Toronto win, which tied the match at 1-1.
 
The Gaels kept the pace early in the third set, which looked like it could become the closest of the match. However, numerous Queen's attacking errors limited their success. The tricolour committed 12 errors on their attacks, managing only eight kills. Dormann continued to swing well, and picked up her blocking game to end the third set with 20 points. Toronto took advantage of the Gaels mistakes to take their first lead in the match at 2-1 with a 25-16 third set victory.
 
The Gaels pushed for a fifth set, but Toronto made continued the solid play that started after the first set. For Queen's, Caroline Livingston (Kelowna, B.C.) had five kills in the set to lead the Gaels effort to tie the match. Dormann responded with eight kills in the set to ensure the Varsity Blues victory.
 
Livingston contributed 20 digs in addition to her 13 kills. Isabelle Korchinski (Vancouver) put together a good day offensively for the Gaels with 10 kills. Queen's also got four kills from setter Nicola Ros (North Vancouver).
 
Dormann finished with a game-high 26.5 points, which sets a new career high for the second-year Varsity Blues standout.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Saturday marks the first time this season Toronto has lost a set
13 - Caroline Livingston as at least 13 kills each game this season
20 - Caroline Livingston set a new career high with 20 digs
22 - Alina Dormann also set a new career high with 22 kills for Toronto
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels are back in action next weekend with another home game, taking on the Windsor Lancers on Friday at 6pm.