CIS women's volleyball Sunday roundup

The X-Women overcame four match points in the fifth set to beat the 12th ranked UNB Varsity Reds. The Varsity Reds opened the match with a 25-14 first set win, then the X-Women took the next two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-21. In a close fourth set, the V-Reds won 26-24 to force the fifth and final set, where StFX came out on top 18-16.

Leading the way for the blue & white was rookie middle blocker Jessica Roberts who earned Player of the Game honors and finished the match collecting 19.5 points (16 kills, 1 ace, 2.5 blocks). Heather Isenor quartered-backed an evenly distributed offense which saw Jessica Nichols (13 points, 11 kills, 11 digs,1 ace, 1 block), Catherine Thornton (11 points, 10 kills, 1 ace) and Katherine Ryan (14 points, 10 kills, 4 blocks and 24 digs) all hit double digits in the kills category.

Jill Blanchard led the Varsity Reds with 18 points (14 kills, 4 aces, 16 digs), while Erica Hay scored 13 points with 12 kills, 1 ace and 8 digs.

On Saturday afternoon, the X-Women were upended by a determined Universite de Moncton squad who pulled off the 3-2 victory. The two teams traded sets as StFX won the first one 25-22, followed by a Moncton 25-19 second set, a StFX 25-19 third set victory and a 25-22 Moncton fourth set win. The fifth set proved to be a close one as the visiting team pulled off the 17-15 win.

StFX was led by rookie left-side Michaela Vorlova who collected an impressive 25 points (22 kills, 3 aces and 22 digs). Catherine Thornton chipped in with 13 kills and 27 digs, while Katherine Ryan added 8 kills and 28 digs. Lauren Ellis entered the match in the fifth set with the X-Women losing 14-10, and with her strong serving and defense allowed the squad to reach match point before the Aigles Bleues eventually closed out the match.

Joline Richard led the Moncton attack with 19 points (16 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks, 24 digs) and Stephanie Lagace tallied 13.5 points on 13 kills, 1 block and 11 digs.

With the 1-1 start to the season, the X-Women will hit the road on the upcoming weekend to Quebec for their annual interlock competition with the RESQ conference. StFX will face matches against Laval, McGill, Sherbrooke and Montreal.

Source: StFX Sports Info