WEEKEND RECAP:  Gee-Gees split weekend, earning key win over #7 Montreal

The Gee-Gees women's volleyball team split their weekend matchups with Sherbrooke at home on Friday and #7 Montreal on Sunday afternoon. Bouncing back from a 3-0 loss to the Vert et Or, the Gee-Gees earned their fourth win of the season defeating the nationally seventh-ranked Carabins at CEPSUM in Montreal. 

On Friday, Ottawa battled evenly with Sherbrooke in the first set to a 20-20 tie before the Vert et Or rattled off four consecutive points to take the commanding lead. The Gee-Gees responded, but their attempt to stay afloat fell short with Sherbrooke taking the set 25-22.

In the second, the Vert et Or once again found rhythm late in the set, pushing a 16-15 lead to 20-15 and 23-16, before closing out a 25-19 win and taking a commanding lead into the third.

The third set was also a scrap, as both teams traded points back and forth. After falling into the hole 21-15, Ottawa battled back to within striking distance at 23-20. With little room for error for the Gee-Gees, Sherbrooke was able to take advantage and close out the 25-21 win.

With a quick turnaround to Sunday afternoon's match in Montreal, the Gee-Gees had to regear for a meeting with the top team in the conference. For the second time this season, the Gee-Gees defeated a nationally ranked opponent, defeating the Carabins 3-2.

In the first set, Ottawa started quietly with Montreal jumping out to a 6-2 lead before the Gee-Gees turned the tides to tie the set at 11. Behind the offensive attack of Denae Bristow and Avery Hughes, the Gee-Gees built a lead that they would not relinquish despite late Montreal advances. 

After the 25-22 set win, the second set turned the tables fully to Montreal, where they battled to a familiar 25-22 win. The third set proved to be Ottawa's most dominant of the afternoon, emphatically erasing a 6-1 Carabins lead. With Danika Robert subbing into the game, the Gee-Gees came to life in the late stages of the set to secure a 25-19 win and put themselves in the driver's seat of the match. 

The gritty Montreal squad responded once again in the fourth, earning a 25-17 win to force a fifth and final set. The final frame lived up to its billing, with both teams going toe-to-toe throughout in the deciding set. In the end, the Gee-Gees were able to break a 10-10 stalemate and secure the vital road victory. 

Hughes led the way for the Gee-Gees with 12 kills, along with seven digs. Bristow contributed eight kills and two aces. Setter Maxim Langevin had 38 assists, while leading the team with 12 digs in the win.

The win keeps the Gee-Gees within striking distance of Laval and Sherbrooke, the two teams currently standing in the way of a playoff spot.

"I think we're really confident, we're looking forward to it," said Janae McKay of the push for the playoffs. "We're going to give it our all and see what happens. We know that it's anyone's game, so we'll just have to give 100% and see where we end up." 

Up next, the Gee-Gees will have two more nationally ranked opponents on the horizon as they will return to Montreal to face #8 McGill on Friday night, before hosting #6 UQAM at Montpetit Hall on Sunday.