The Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team fell 3-2 (26-24, 25-23, 10-25, 21-25, 15-12) to the Windsor Lancers, on Saturday, February 12 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

The Lancers had a rough start and the Blues took full advantage; Rookie Malena Rapaport of Vancouver, B.C., stepped up and tallied two aces and a kill for the Blues in first few minutes of play. Toronto continued to outplay the Lancers through the first technical. The Lancers, however, led by Michelle Pierce (Windsor, Ont.) began to make a steady recovery, eventually overtaking the Blues 10-9.

Brianna Balzer (Windsor, Ont.) backed up Pierce, soon bringing the Lancers a 16-12 lead. The Blues eventually caught up, evening the score with a nice kill from Rapaport, but the Lancers persevered and won the set 26-24.

Karlee Diesing of Coquitlam, B.C. and Calgary native Katrina Rossall led the Blues in the second set, but it was a close one. Neither team let the other get a handle on the game and the match continued to tie long into the play. At 23-23 it was anyone’s game and the Lancers Brianna Balzer just managed to land a kill in time to take it in their favour (25-23).

Down two sets, the Blues pulled together and managed to gain an amazing comeback. They blew through the third set, only letting 10 of Windsor’s shots in; Charlotte Sider (Ottawa), Diesing, and Rapaport raked in kill after kill as they pulled through the fourth set to gain a 25-21 victory.

With two sets each it all came down to the final set. It went back-and-fourth all the way through, but ultimately Kalia Seguin (Windsor, Ont.) and Pierce won the set in favour of the Lancers 15-12.

Diesing led the Blues with 18 kills and nine digs, while Alexandra Hudson had 16 kills and 18 digs in the loss.

The Varsity Blues return to the floor tomorrow afternoon as they host the Western Mustangs at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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