Fifth-year rightside hitter Kristina Valjas recorded a game-high 20 kills as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team fell 3-2 to the McMaster Marauders in their third annual Cheer Blue, Think Pink game on Sunday, February 7 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
Their first loss in eight games, the Blues drop to 12-5 and are tied with the Queen’s Gaels for the top spot in the OUA East division with a game in hand. The Marauders improve to 16-2 and remain in first place in the West.
Sporting a pink jersey in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Chapter, Valjas was on fire all day and was named the Varsity Blues player of the game as she added 11 digs, four blocks and one serving ace to her 22-kill performance.
Both teams were evenly matched from the get-go as neither squad gained more than a four-point lead throughout the first set. Up 16-15 at the second technical time out, the Blues began to diminish as McMaster’s Larissa Puhach (Burlington, Ont.) and Kaila Janssen (Oshawa, Ont.) landed some huge kills to put the Marauders up 23-19.
Despite a couple of serving aces from fifth-year middle Lauren Willoughby (Unionville, Ont.), U of T was unable to complete the comeback and dropped the first set 25-22.
Toronto came out strong in the second to take the first three points. However, the Marauders went on an 8-3 run to take a three-point lead at the first technical time out. Both teams continued to exchange points with the Blues trailing by the slightest of margins for the majority of the game.
Valjas again rallied the troops with four of the last seven kills to set teammate Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) up for the winner. U of T took the second set 28-26.
The third set mirrored the second as the Blues found themselves trailing by no more than four points at a time. Down 16-12 at the second technical timeout, Bansley began a Blues comeback with four consecutive kills to even the score at 18. The set went back-and-forth as the Marauders came out on top 25-23.
With Bansely sidelined due to injury, Valjas dominated the fourth set to keep Toronto’s hopes alive. The veteran player capped off the game with two kills to secure the 25-18 win and force a fifth and deciding set.
Despite a valiant effort from first-year Blues Rebecca Crosier (Ottawa), McMaster’s libero and player of the game Meagan Nederveen (Burlington, Ont.) came up with some huge digs to spoil Toronto’s attack. Down 12-6, Toronto was unable to come back as the West-leading Marauders took the fifth set 15-10 to secure the 3-2 victory.
Despite playing only three of the five games, Bansley recorded 14 kills and 14 digs, while Diesing had 11 kills and 20 digs. Setter Kathleen Mahannah (North Vancouver, B.C.) tallied 45 assists and 15 digs, while libero Michelle Wood (Toronto) garnered a game-high 33 digs in the loss.
The Marauders were led by Janssen’s 10 kills and 13 digs, while Larissa Puhach had nine kills and 24 digs and rookie Lauren Skelly (Whitby, Ont.) posted nine kills and 15 digs. Fifth-year setter Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, Ont.) recorded 37 assists and 16 digs in the victory.
The Varsity Blues return to action on Wednesday, February 10 when they take on the Laurier Golden Hawks at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
This game was originally schedule for Nov. 8 but was postponed in accordance to the OUA’s H1N1 policy.
Notes:
The Varsity Blues honoured seven graduating athletes in the pregame ceremony. Former players Dianne Burrows and Vivian Chan, as well as current veterans Heather Bansley, Kathleen Mahannah, Kristina Valjas, Michelle Wood and Lauren Willoughby were recognized.
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.
