Gee-Gees keep pace with OUA's best with 3-0 win over Mac

"When you have a team down 2-0, they are going to fight. The third set is the hardest to win and we had super long rallies. At the end, I was really impressed with how our power hitters did what power hitters are supposed to do because they found a way to keep swinging," said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods.

Fourth-year setter Christina Grail made her return to the lineup after missing last week's game due to the flu and made an impact right away, as the Gee-Gees used a 10-1 run to take a 16-6 lead at the technical timeout. Third-year left-side hitter Karina Krueger Schwanke was the main beneficiary of Grail's stellar play, as she earned seven kills throughout the first set. While McMaster scored three straight points off the timeout, Ottawa managed to close out the set 25-11, with the final blow being delivered from second-year middle Alix Durivage.

Third-year right side hitter Kelsie English excelled early in the second set, earning a crucial block and a well-placed kill as Ottawa took a 7-5 lead. She later added a couple of points off the serve to stretch the Gee-Gees' lead to 11-6. Following a stretch of sloppy play by both sides, Schwanke had a highlight-reel cross-court kill as Ottawa led 16-9 at the technical timeout. The Marauders ended up cutting Ottawa's lead to 19-14 but that's as close as they would get, with the Gee-Gees earning a 25-18 win.

The Gee-Gees leapt out to a 5-1 lead in the third set, behind the strong play of their two middles in Durivage and Kathryn Weihrer. However, the Marauders managed to keep the pressure on the home favourites, as they hung within four points of Ottawa throughout most of the match. The Marauders eventually took the lead at 18-17, but the Gee-Gees re-took the lead following an ace by Weihrer at 20-19. The third set went down to the wire, with the home side eventually prevailing 31-29, thanks to solid defensive play provided by third-year outside hitter Myriam English and the offensive prowess of Schwanke-she scored the final three points of the match.

"We started really strong in this match. We practiced with high intensity the whole week and I think that came out in this match," said Myriam English. "I was making the right reads on defence and we served well as a team so it was a good team effort."

uOttawa will play a pair of home games next weekend against the Queen's Gaels and RMC Paladins.

Gee-Gees leading players: Karina Krueger Schwanke 16 kills, 11 digs, Myriam English 7 kills, 20 digs

McMaster leading players: Kierstyn Bakker 9 kills, 7 digs, Kailee Stock 9 kills, 3 digs