The St. Thomas University Tommies women’s volleyball team beat the Dalhouse Rams three sets to one at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym Nov. 7.
Head Coach Don McKay believes the Tommies could have done better despite their win and contributes it to a few practices that were cancelled prior to the game.
“I didn’t feel we played very well, but as a group we were able to win. I think we started slowly in most sets, we could have played better. I give credit to Dal, they played very well, (but) we gave them their points,” said McKay.
Around 50 fans showed up to the match plus players from STU men’s volleyball team who faced off with the University of New Brunswick Seawolves after the women’s match.
The first set started with a point by Rams Breanna Balcom and then another by Chelsea Carree.
Tommies Laura MacDonald scored the Tommies first point, but then served the ball into the net giving the Rams another point.
Dominique Caravan spiked the ball over the net not giving the Rams a chance to return it bringing the score 4-2 for the Rams.
The opening of the first set went back and forth for both teams until the score was tied 17-17. STU then called a time out.
As the game re-started, Jennifer Russell of the Tommies served the ball but was slammed back to Tommies court forcing Russell to dive for the ball. The ball was not recovered and the Rams scored.
The Tommies quickly tied the score at 18-18 a piece forcing the Rams to make a dive to save the ball to keep the score in Rams favour.
The Rams gained ground on the Tommies but Jessica Barna was able to tie the game 21-21.
Tommies Shaniya Vance spiked the ball a minute later bringing STU on top.
Russell scored again for the last point ending the set at 25-22 for STU.
Baylee Anderson of the Tommies served the first ball of the second set but hit the net giving the Rams a 1-0 advantage.
Later on in the set a Rams spiked the ball into the hands of Barna who reflected the ball from her hands to the net scoring a point for the rams bringing it 15-2 for STU.
Rams Breanna Balcom served the ball and was picked off by Vance who passed it to Anderson who made a dive for the ball but couldn’t get it over the net.
The Rams scored again shortly after tying the score 20-20.
The final set went to STU ending at 25-23.
Breanna Balcom started the third set serving to Vance who scored the first point of the set.
Laura MacDonald completed four points in a row off her serve bringing the score 5-0. Her next serve hit the net and ended her streak.
MacDonald’s impressive serving forced the Rams to call a time out and eventually brought in a few points for the rams.
The score was again tied at 13-13 a piece after Tommies Hailey Burlock lost a point to the Rams after serving the ball into the net.
Balcom served the ball scoring a point bringing the Rams two points ahead at 21-19 Rams.
The third set ended 25-20 in Rams favour.
Dominique Caravan opened the final set with a point scoring serve but was quickly replied to by the Rams with a goal of their own.
STU showed to be a dominant force in this set after leading the Rams 13-8. The Rams replied with a few solid scores bringing it 16-14.
Near the end of the set, Tommies Barna served a bad ball that landed out of bounds giving the Rams a point and bringing the score for STU 20-18.
STU scored their last point when the Rams served the ball, hitting the net, giving the Tommies a three point advantage and ending the set 23-20 for STU giving them the game three sets to one.
