Box Score Fourth-year left side hitter Charlotte Sider notched a career-high 25 kills in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's volleyball team to a 3-2 ( 25-18, 20-25, 19-25, 25-23, 16-14) victory over the Western Mustangs on Sunday, January 26 at the Athletic Center Sports Gym.



The win improves the Blues to 12-3 and puts them in a three-way tie for first place with the York Lions and the Ottawa Gee-Gees.



Sider (Ottawa) led all players with 26 points while adding a service ace and seven digs in the game. Rookie Tessa Davis (South Surrey, B.C) added 13 kills and four blocks and setter Madelyn Mandryk (Lockport, Man.) had 32 assists and 10 digs in the win.



The Blues went on a 4-0 run at the start of the first set to take the lead but the Mustangs were quick to even it up 7-7. The teams went point for point midway through the frame until the Blues went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead before a Sider kill sealed the game 25-18.



The teams traded points, and the lead, in the early goings of the second set. The Mustangs gained the lead 16-13 going into the technical time out and followed that up with a 4-0 run. Western maintained their advantage and took the second set 25-20.



In the third set the Blues trailed the Mustangs 10-16 at the technical time out. Toronto rallied to close the gap but the Mustangs held their lead to take the set 25-19.



The fourth set began as a back and forth battle before the Blues went on a 5-0 run to secure the lead 8-5. Western worked their way back on a 5-0 run of there own to even the game at 15-15 midway through the set. Some long rallies ensued before a huge Caleigh Cruickshank (Etobicoke, Ont) block gave the Blues the fourth, 25-23, and forced the fifth set.



The fifth set went point for point until a Davis block put the Blues ahead 8-7 heading into the change-over.  The teams brought the game to an even 14-14 until the Blues clinched the set 16-14 and took the match.



Stepahnie Kreuter led the Mustangs with 15 kills and 13 digs while teammate Katherine Tsiofas had 49 assists in the game.



The Varsity Blues will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 1 when they take on the Brock Badgers in the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Game is set for 12 p.m.



GAME NOTES: During the second set break, former Varsity Blues volleyball player Olivia St-Jean cut her hair for donation in support of U of T's annual Think Pink week…The Blues honoured long-time head coach Kristine Drakich in a special pre-game presentation, celebrating her 25^th season with the Varsity Blues.



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