Badgers the next challenge for undefeated Gee-Gees

Hosting Brock (2-4 OUA) Saturday, November 10, 2:00 p.m. (SSN Canada)

Thanks to a 5-0 start to the regular season, the Gee-Gees volleyball team is now ranked fifth in the CIS Top 10 poll and is first in the OUA standings. Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory over the Guelph Gryphons. While the Gee-Gees impressed their fanbase in their home opener, Ottawa made some uncharacteristic errors early in the Guelph match. However, the Gee-Gees responded well to adversity last weekend and are now looking forward to playing Brock on Nov. 10.

"In the Guelph match, we made too many hitting errors that were unforced hitting errors. I feel like they were mostly because we were trying to be too perfect and too exact. If our attitude is "let's just go after it, even if we miss a few", I think we'll be a better team," said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods.

The Gee-Gees lead the nation in two key team statistical categories, including a whopping 3.41 aces per set played so far this season. Ottawa has been an excellent serving team for years, and led the CIS in the same category last season. The fact that the Gee-Gees are also leading the nation in points earned per set, with 17.8 points, has been a pleasant surprise and speaks to the fact that the Gee-Gees do not have to rely on opponents' errors to score.

"The thing I like about that stat is that we're earning our points. That's a great ratio, where we earn 17 or 18 points per set and we're only given about seven points by the other team. Right now, we're taking the points we want to take and I think that's a great place to be in," Woods explained.

uOttawa boasts a very balanced lineup with many talented veterans, including third-year left side hitter Karina Krueger Schwanke who leads the nation in points per set, with 5.2. Fourth-year setter Christina Grail is first in the CIS in assists per set with 10.56 assists. In addition, third-year right side hitter Kelsie English is seventh in the country in blocks per set with 1.31.

On the flip side, Brock is currently 2-4 in the OUA, as they snapped a three-game losing streak on Nov. 4 against Windsor. The Badgers are a very dangerous team who won the 2012 McMaster Thanksgiving Classic in the preseason and placed sixth in the OUA last season.

"Brock's record isn't as good as what I think they are. They are an energetic, fired-up, gutsy team and that's what I'm expecting to see on Saturday," said Woods.