In a closely contested five-set thriller, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's volleyball team fell to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 3-2 on Friday (Jan. 17) night at Montpetit Hall in Ottawa, Ont.

The Blues fought hard throughout the match, but the Gee-Gees emerged victorious with set scores of 25-23, 18-25, 25-17, 24-26, and 15-12.

Toronto displayed a strong performance on both sides of the ball, registering 51 kills and 52 digs as a team. The Blues hit .163 overall, showing resilience in a match filled with extended rallies and crucial points, including a tightly contested fourth set that saw the Blues hold off the Gee-Gees until the last possible moment to stay alive and force a fifth set.

Julia Murmann led the Blues with an outstanding performance, recording 20 kills, 15 digs, and a .318 hitting percentage. Julia Liu also delivered a stellar outing, contributing 19 kills, five digs, and three service aces. Setter Robin Melnick facilitated the offense with 23 assists and added seven digs, while libero Delaney Watson had eight digs of her own.

For Ottawa, Audrey Odigie led the way with 17 kills, eight digs, and a .303 hitting percentage, with Nicole Hildebrand adding 12 kills and four blocks. Setter Harper Schaefer tallied 28 assists and two aces.

The Blues will look to bounce back tomorrow as they face the Gee-Gees once again at 4 p.m. in Ottawa, Ont.. The game will be streamed live on oua.tv.