Irwin shines but ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ loses luster at 20th annual Martlet Invitational
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(PHOTO OF TOURNEY ALL-STAR KELSEY IRWIN, BY ANDREW DOBROWOLSKYJ)
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MONTREAL - Kelsey Irwin led an injury-riddled ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ women's volleyball team to a fourth-place finish of six teams at the 20th edition of the Martlet Invitational over the weekend.
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Irwin, a fifth-year senior from Vancouver, B.C., was the only member of the Martlets to make the all-tourney team. The six-foot middle-blocker racked up 47 digs, 43 kills, seven stuff blocks and four aces over 14 sets played. She registered a 3.26 passing ratio out of 4 and averaged 3.26 points per set.
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±«ÓãÖ±²¥ went 2-3 over the tourney, which was won by Dalhousie in a stunning five-set decision over the heavily-favoured Calgary Dinos, who suffered a colossal collapse after winning the first two sets.
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±«ÓãÖ±²¥ opened on Friday with a 3-0 sweep over Saint Mary's, winning by set scores of 25-18, 25-22, 25-17) but were felled by Calgary a few hours later, losing 25-18, 25-21, 25-16. On Saturday, the Martlets got off to a good start with a 3-1 win over Dalhousie, winning 25-20, 25-19, 20-25 and 25-19, to finish the round-robin portion in third place. They were matched up with second-place Dalhousie in a semifinal a few hours later but were surprised 25-18, 25-14, 24-26, 25-21 by a testy Tigers squad that went on to win the tourney with a shocking victory over Calgary in five sets.
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In Sunday's bronze-medal match, a depleted Martlets squad was no match for the Montreal Carabins, who won 3-1. ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ put up quite a battle in the opening set but suffered a 27-25 defeat, which effectively deflated the team. They then proceeded to drop the next two sets against their cross-town rivals 25-21 and 25-22.
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"We thought we could beat the Carabins but needed a little more intensity," said Rachele Beliveau, in her 20th season as head coach at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥. "It was difficult, however, with all the injuries we've had."
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The Martlets had entered the tourney without Kaiva Mateus, a six-foot-one middle blocker and Marie-Christine Lapointe, a six-foot setter. To make matters worse, they lost five-foot-10 Genevieve Plante, a highly-recruited power-hitter, who suffered a sprained ankle in the opening match. Three other veterans were playing hurt, including the aforementioned Irwin, plus setter Marcela Mansure and power-hitter Victoria Pelletier.
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The Martlets, who went 8-7 in preseason play, now have a two-week beak to lick their wounds in preparation for the regular season which opens in Quebec City, Oct. 29-31, with an interlocking tournament between the Quebec and Atlantic conferences.
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20th Annual ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Martlet Invitational Volleyball Tournament
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FRIDAY, OCT. 15
Dalhousie 3, Montreal 2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 16-14)
Calgary 3, Ottawa 0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-18)
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 3, Saint Mary's 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-17)
Dalhousie 3, Ottawa 2 (25-20, 29-31, 18-25, 25-20, 15-11)
Montreal 3, Saint Mary's 0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-19)
Calgary 3, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-16)
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SATURDAY, OCT. 16
Ottawa 3, Saint Mary's 1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-20)
Calgary 3, Montreal 1 (25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21)
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 3, Dalhousie 1 (25-20, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19)
SEMIFINAL A: Calgary 3, Montreal 1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-23)
SEMIFINAL B: Dalhousie 3, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 1 (25-18, 25-14, 24-26, 25-21)
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SUNDAY, OCT. 17
FIFTH-PLACE MATCH: Ottawa 3, Saint Mary's 1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-16, 25-13)
THIRD-PLACE MATCH: Montreal 3, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ 0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-22)
FIRST-PLACE MATCH: Dalhousie 3, Calgary 2 (22-25, 15-25, 25-18, 26-24, 16-14)
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ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Marie-Sophie Naudeau, Montreal
Kelsey Irwin, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥
Sarah Lacny, Calgary
Melanie Miazga, Calgary
Kirstie Shepherd, Dalhousie
Maura Hayes, Calgary
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TOURNAMENT MVP
Louise Facca, Dalhousie
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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Athletics & Recreation
514-398-7012
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)