WEEKEND RECAP: Gee-Gees close season against McGill and Laval, celebrate seniors

After a long layoff between first and second semester play, the Gee-Gees women's volleyball team closed their 2021-22 campaign with losses to McGill and Laval on Friday and Sunday. 

On Sunday, the Gee-Gees celebrated the careers of graduating seniors Tristan Peterson, Magalie Frappier, and Robin Melnick in front of family, friends, and fans at Montpetit Hall. 

FEBURARY 25 at McGILL

The Gee-Gees took to the road for their first match of 2022, where they faced the McGill Martlets, who sit tied for top-spot in the RSEQ this season.

Despite a competitive first set where the hosts won by a 25-19 margin, the Martlets pulled away further in the second and third, winning by final scores of 25-15, and 25-11 to close off the match in straight sets. 

McGill was precise in their attacking particularity in the third and final set, where they posted a .424 kill percentage on 33 attacks.

Tristan Peterson led the way with seven kills on 23 attacks, while Maxim Langevin earned 11 assists on the night. 

FEBURARY 27 vs LAVAL

The Gee-Gees returned home to Montpetit Hall for the first time since early December for a Seniors Night matchup with the Laval Rouge et Or. Laval was a tough test for Ottawa in the season finale, as the Rouge et Or won 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 25-13). 

The Gee-Gees struggled establishing consistent momentum in the first set, falling behind 6-1 early. Ottawa battled back to bring the score within one at 11-10, however, Laval quickly rallied to take control of the set and put it out of reach for the Gee-Gees. 

The Garnet and Grey fared much better in the second set, dualling back and forth in the early stages before powering to a five-point lead at 10-5. Laval responded to reclaim the lead, but the Gee-Gees responded to tie the set at 12-1, and eventually take a narrow 16-15 lead heading in to the technical time-out. Five straight Ottawa points late in the frame secured the Gee-Gees the win in the set.

Bringing some momentum into the third, the Gee-Gees posted an early 7-3 lead. The Rouge et Or stormed back to reclaim the lead in the middle stages, holding their advantage for the remainder of the set to lock in the win.

In the final set, the Rouge et Or kept the pressure up despite a valiant fight to stay in the match from the hosts. With all three graduating seniors on the floor for the match point, the Gee-Gees officially closed off the 2021-22 campaign.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"The three of them came into what would have been a bit of a rebuild, COVID hit and they've been a part of a process, but haven't had a chance to realize it yet. The three of them have really tried everything they can to get this group as far along as they can with as little as we've had. I reminded everyone that they've had 12 matches in two years. That was just the best match of volleyball in those 12 matches, that's what those leaders have done, they've stayed with it. To me, their legacy is how good we get in a year from now because they set it in motion." – Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods.

"I think uOttawa made me the person I am. Given the circumstances of the way volleyball went and my personal career, volleyball almost was secondary, and I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I developed as an athlete, but more so as a person because of Lionel and the example he sets. The program itself, I've never felt more supported in my life, it was a second family, the school cares about us though every up and down. I don't know who I'd be without it." – Graduating senior and captain Tristan Peterson.