Fifth-ranked Gee-Gees wrap up first half against Montréal, Windsor

Host Montréal (10-4 RSEQ) Thursday, November 29, 7:00 p.m. (SSN Canada) *Exhibition match
Host Windsor (2-6 OUA) Saturday, December 1, 2:00 p.m. (SSN Canada)

The uOttawa Gee-Gees women's volleyball team will look to recover from a tough loss against the 8-0 York Lions on Nov. 25, with two matches on tap this week. First, the nationally fifth-ranked Gee-Gees will welcome in the Montréal Carabins to Montpetit Hall for an interconference exhibition match on Thursday. The Carabins are currently ranked ninth in the CIS Top 10. Next, the Gee-Gees will host the Windsor Lancers on Saturday, in what will be Ottawa's final OUA game until the new year.

"There's no better way to come off that York match, to be able to test ourselves against another top team," said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods. "We're going to have two tough physically matches and I know that our team will be ready."

The Gee-Gees and Lions pushed each other to the limit this past Sunday, with the Lions edging out the Gee-Gees by the closest of margins. As a result, Ottawa dropped one spot in the CIS Top 10 poll from fourth to fifth. But the Gee-Gees will have a chance to solidify their status as a top-five team in the country by beating the powerhouse Carabins, who won the RSEQ regular season title last season. The two teams played each other back in September at Montréal, where the Gee-Gees came out on top 3-1. Montréal's offence is led by veteran attacker Marie-Sophie Nadeau, a first-team CIS All-Canadian from last season.

"For the first time this season, Montréal is now healthy. If we are going to make a run into the national championships this year, we don't want to be just happy to get there. If we have a chance to get there, we want to compete for a place on the podium. And Montréal is a team that will compete for a podium spot. I hope that we can match them blow for blow," explained Woods.

Ottawa has also faced Windsor already this season, in their season opener, when the Gee-Gees swept away the Lancers in a road win. The Lancers are among the top blocking teams in the country, ranking fifth in the country with 2.68 blocks per set. The Gee-Gees are just behind Windsor in seventh place with 2.58 blocks per set.
"Windsor is athletically better than their record for sure. If you give them opportunities, they'll make you pay so it's a good test for us in our final match of the first half of the season," said Woods.