The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's volleyball team will head to Kingston, Ont., to take on the nationally ranked Queen's Gaels in an OUA quarter-final showdown this Friday (Feb. 21) at the ARC.
 
Coming off of their second four-game win streak of the season, Toronto enters the quarter-finals as the eighth seed with a 12-8 (W-L) regular season record overall. The Blues entered the winter break with a 4-6 record but responded with a strong second half, including wins over Ottawa, Guelph, and Waterloo, propelling themselves into the playoffs. U of T's success came as a result of excellent defensive play which saw them lead the OUA in digs. As well, the offence came to life, with the Blues averaging 11.99 kills per set, ranking them fourth-best in the province by the end of the regular season. The Blues will be eager to improve upon last year's quarter-final exit to TMU.
 
Meanwhile, the 17-3 Gaels cemented themselves as the best team in the OUA this season, including a 13-game winning streak that began on Nov. 2 and ended in early February. The Gaels are an elite team on both sides of the ball, finishing the regular season as the OUA leader in points per set and total blocks, while finishing second in hitting percentage and third in service aces.

The Blues and Gaels faced each other twice this season back in November, competing in back-to-back matches in Kingston. The Gaels claimed the win in both matches during their long winning streak, but the Blues will be looking for an upset similar to the straight sets victory they claimed over Queen's during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Feb. 21 | 6 p.m.
ARC - Kingston, Ont.
Live Stats
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2024-25 REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS
Toronto
Points: Julia Murmann | 293 points
Kills: Julia Murmann | 267 kills
Blocks: Anna Gadomski | 54 blocks
Assists: Robin Melnick | 583 assists
Digs: Delaney Watson | 275 digs
 
Queen's
Points: Hannah Duchesneau | 265.5 points
Kills: Hannah Duchesneau | 221 kills
Blocks: Amanda Siksna | 99 blocks (OUA leader in blocks per set at 1.38)
Assists: Kennedy Millin | 564 assists
Digs: Holly Biasi | 187 digs
 
HISTORY
Last Five Games:
Nov. 30, 2024 | Queen's 3, Toronto 0
Nov. 29, 2024 | Queen's 3, Toronto 0
Jan. 13, 2024 | Queen's 3, Toronto 0
Jan. 12, 2024 | Toronto 3, Queen's 0
Nov. 6, 2022 | Queen's 3, Toronto 2