Marathon match ends in 3-2 win for Gee-Gees

Ottawa started the match with a 5-1 run before Toronto started to respond, eventually tying the score at nine apiece. From there, the opening three sets were a back and forth duel between the squads, which Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods called an intellectual battle. "Toronto is such a smart team¦ you cannot for a second stop thinking because they constantly make adjustments. Their intelligence as hitters was what we needed to catch up with in the first few sets."

Toronto's craftiness forced some sloppy receptions and scrambled play from Ottawa in the middle sets, but the Gee-Gees recovered in the fourth frame. That set opened with a 7-0 run by the Gee-Gees which was enabled by strong digging in the backcourt. Toronto snuck back into the set in the middle stages, but Alix Durivage swatted down a floating ball for the 25-18 set victory.

Ottawa carried their strong fourth set play into the fifth, establishing a 5-2 early lead thanks to strong play at the net by the front line of Kelsie and Myriam English with Kathryn Weihrer in the middle. Myriam English picked up two solo blocks and four kills in the fifth set, making key plays to hold off any Toronto charge. "That's what we depend on her for," said Woods of the third-year attacker. "She gained confidence as the game went on and got more solid."

Karina Krueger Schwanke recorded 15 kills in the match for Ottawa, while Kelsie English led the blocking contingent with four solo blocks and three assists. The Gee-Gees will complete their Toronto road trip with a noon-time matchup at Ryerson on Sunday.

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