The Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-23) decision to the Western Mustangs in their final game of the 2010-11 season on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 13) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

Varsity Blues player of the game Karlee Diesing notched a game-high 13 kills in her final game wearing Blue and White. Rookie Charlotte Sider of Ottawa notched seven kills, 4 digs, while Katrina Rossall had five kills and eight digs in the loss.

The first set began in favour of the Mustangs, as Elaine Screaton of Calgary nabbed the first few kills of the match. First-year Varsity Blue Sarah Chapin of Georgetown, Ont., fought back but despite her efforts, the Mustangs kept the lead, pushing their score up to 17-9 at the second technical time out.

Toronto gained some ground near the end, with Diesing landing some powerful shots, but the Mustangs persevered. With two kills from Kelly Frittenberg (Alton, Ont.), Western won 25-22.

Jenny Pierce of Oakville, Ont., led the Mustangs in the second with three consecutive aces after the first technical. The Blues lost their momentum and were not able to keep pace with the Mustangs. Elyssa Lanoix (Ottawa) and Malena Rapaport (Vancouver) each nabbed two kills nearing the end of the match, brining the Blues within four points (17-21). Ultimately, however, Pierce and Frittenberg quickly ended the match before the Blues could catch up.

Diesing started the third off for the Blues, who won the first few opening points. It wasn’t long before Johnston picked up the pace for the Mustangs, pushing them into the lead. For most of the match the Blues struggled to find their footing and Western continued to advance, until, down 8-16, the Blues turned things around and tied the game at 22-22. Chapin and Frittenberg battled it out till the end, where in a few unlucky plays for U of T, the Mustangs took the game.

Sarah Johnston (Stratford, Ont.) led the Mustangs with nine kills, followed up by Screaton and Peirce who both tallied eight kills apiece.

The Varsity Blues end their 2010-11 season in fifth place in the OUA East with a 5-14 record, four points shy of the final playoff spot.

GAME NOTES:

The Varsity Blues honoured graduating players Dana Collins and Karlee Diesing in a pre-game ceremony. 

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