Women win twice at home

Gaels sit second in the OUA at 8-3

Outside hitter Becky Billings celebrates after a kill on Saturday.
Image by: Justin Chin
Outside hitter Becky Billings celebrates after a kill on Saturday.

The women’s volleyball team bent, but didn’t break in its victories last weekend. The Gaels were pushed to five sets against the Guelph Gryphons and four sets against the Waterloo Warriors, but prevailed both times to improve to an 8-3 record and move into a second-place tie in the OUA.

“We could have closed out both matches sooner,” head coach Joely Christian-Macfarlane said. “That’s a little problematic and something we’ll have to work on.”

Against Guelph, outside Becky Billings and middle Katie Hagarty led the team with 15 kills each. Outside hitters Natalie Gray and Kelsey Bishop paced the balanced Queen’s offence with 11 kills apiece against Waterloo.

Christian-Macfarlane said the team is still learning to play with a lead.

“It’s about staying hungry and keeping the fire in your belly,” she said. “When we’re ahead, I try to keep them focused on staying aggressive and finishing out the match the way they started.”

Queen’s was outblocked 14-3 by Guelph and 10-2 against Waterloo Warriors and will look to improve their play at the net this week.

“We’re big … but we’re not over the net and aggressive there,” Christian-Macfarlane said.

The Gaels will travel to McMaster and York for two road games this weekend. Queen’s will be able to measure themselves against the OUA’s elite when they play the 9-1 York Lions on Saturday.

With a relatively tight OUA, Natalie Gray said the best way for the Gaels to separate themselves from the pack would be through consistent play.

“It’s anyone’s year this year and it’ll definitely just come down to whichever team is the most consistent day-to-day,” Gray said. “Our team is learning to be more consistent … it showed this weekend with our ability to battle back after being down a few points.”

Tags

Becky Billings, natalie gray, Women's Volleyball

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