“McMaster’s a team with lots of experience,” said coach Green post game. “They run a solid step attack, and live solely off their left sides. Rightfully so, they’re good. They present areas teams can attack and experienced teams will do that. The key word is experienced. We’re not there yet but we gained some tonight.”
Lakehead’s younger players were in the spotlight, namely Rheanna Geisel, a rookie from Dauphin, Manitoba. The tall middle 4 kills and 2.5 blocks, while playing the majority of the game and going up against some imposing maroon-clad attackers.
After battling back from 6-0 in the first set, Lakehead seemed to get in their groove, eventually taking their first lead of the set at 20-19. They were up 24-22 before McMaster rallied to force extra points.
The second set the ‘Wolves were rolling, leading from beginning to end to take a 2-0 set lead. That’s when McMaster woke up, and countered in a big way. It wasn’t until the fourth set that Lakehead made any kind of counter, and made it too late, narrowly losing the fourth set 23-25, after having tied the score at 21 and 23.
Left side Jen Casey made 18 kills on 56 attempts (.179 eff.) and made 13 digs.
Breanne Hilhorst, Lakehead’s defensive foundation, made 23 digs with 1 assist.
Sophomore Kailan Robinson had 11 kills, and setter Vanessa Masters made 34 assists, on top of 3 kills and 2.5 blocks.
McMaster was led by Maicee Sorensen with 11 kills, and Taylor Brisebois had 10. Setter Caitlyn Genovy made 39 assists.
“I feel we had a typical letdown in the 3rd set, while Mac raised their game. Experience does that,” added Green. “We can’t allow ourselves to make 14 service errors, 11 Reception Errors, 27 attack errors with 5 of those being stuff blocks, thats not acceptable. Pure errors are unforgivable and we must learn fast from that.”
Green continues, “Everyday around here is a learning day, these girls will need to start to listen to what is being asked, and simplify their focus to simply execute the basics. We are confident that when they do that, fortunes will turn. Mac is a top 4 team in OUA. We battled one of the best, and now we regroup and battle tomorrow again.”
The women rematch Saturday night at 7:00PM in the Thunderdome.
