The No. 9 Varsity Blues picked up a come-from-behind victory on the road Saturday afternoon against the Queen's Gaels. Despite falling behind two sets to one, the Blues worked their way back into the contest to earn a 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 30-32, 25-21, 15-13) win.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Opening the season against the same team that they eliminated last year in the OUA East final, the Varsity Blues had to weather a Queen's storm out of the gates. After Toronto took an 8-7 lead on a Queen's attack error, the Gaels came back with four straight points, opening up the first three-point lead of the night. The two teams would go back and forth from that point with the score being deadlocked 20-20. However, Queen's would go on to score five of the next six points to secure the first set.

Looking to avoid a 2-0 deficit, the Blues veteran offensive attack of Evan Falardeau and Mitchell Neuert began to force problems for the Gaels. Getting multiple service aces and kills from Falardeau and two crucial kills from Neuert late in the set, the Blues evened the match at one set a piece thanks to a 25-23 win.

Although it was the first match of the year, an early candidate for set of the year took place in the third. Led by four more kills from Falardeau, the Blues were able to jump out to an early lead and maintain a small cushion. Toronto then began to pull away during the middle stages of the set taking a 16-8 lead. Despite momentum on the Blues side, Queen's began to cut into the lead. Going on a 7-0, the Gaels pulled within one point of the Blues. As the two teams continued to battle, Toronto held a narrow 19-17 lead. That lead however, nor any other the rest of the way was safe though, as there were ten more lead changes before the third set finally ended 32-30 in favour of Queen's.

Having to win two straight sets to avoid a season opening loss, the Blues got to work in the fourth. After establishing an early 6-4 lead, the Blues found themselves going point for point with Queen's. With three points being the biggest lead during the middle of the set, Toronto was able to hold a 20-19 lead late. Taking advantage of a couple of Queen's errors, while also getting a pair of kills from Falardeau and an ace from Jayden Talsma, the Blues forced a fifth set, winning 25-21.

The fifth set did not look promising for Toronto to start as the Gaels jumped out to an 8-3 advantage at the switch. Fortunately for the Blues, they were able to get under control in time. Winning eight of the next 10 points, the Blues were able to jump out in front 11-10 in the race to 15. Tied 13-13, Falardeau registered another kill before Connor Vanderkuip hammered home the match-clinching point.

UP NEXT: The Blues will try and sweep their two-match set against the Gaels when they battle Queen's in Kingston once again on November 6.