Box Score The Varsity Blues women's volleyball team downed the visiting Waterloo Warriors 3-0 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym Saturday afternoon, as a part of Think Pink Saturday. All three sets (28-26, 27-25, 25-20) were closely contested with the first two going to extra points to determine the winner.
Shannon Rossall (Calgary Alta.) and Jennifer Neilson (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) each had ten kills in the sweep, while the Blues combined for five service aces in the match.
After an early 9-4 run by Toronto to open the first set, the teams traded off the next 14 points evenly leaving the Blues up 16-11. The Warriors clawed back into the set with a strong 11-6 run, pulling even at 22-22. After splitting the next four points Toronto would have to fend off one set point for Waterloo before taking the first frame 28-26.
The second set saw more back-and-forth action as the two squads split the first 14 points. Waterloo would start to pull away with a 6-1 rally and hold leads of 13-8, 16-10 and 22-17. The Varsity Blues responded in kind with seven straight points, including a service ace from Charlotte Sider (Ottawa, Ont.) and multiple kills by Neilson. The see-saw battle continued though as Waterloo fought off two set points by the Blues to pull even 24-24. Toronto closed out the set with a 3-1 run.
In the third set the Warriors jumped out to an early 7-4 lead before the Blues rallied to tie it at 11 all. Toronto's run would continue as they took eight of the 11 points to build an 18-13 advantage. Momentum swung back in favour of Waterloo as the Warriors struck for five straight points to pull even again at 18-18. There would be one final run the Blues took seven of the final nine points, closing the match with 25-20 victory in the final set.
The win leaves Toronto (7-7) in a tie with McMaster for sixth in the OUA, while the Warriors drop to 2-13 on the season. Kirsten Sheffield (North Bay, Ont.) led the Warriors with nine kills in the match.
The Varsity Blues will be back in action Sunday, January 27 at 3 p.m. when they host the Guelph Gryphons (4-10).
W-Volleyball vs Waterloo 1/26/2013 Gallery
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