Laval Takes Thrilling Match in Five Sets

Game Recap by Mackenzie Holden 

(Halifax, NS)- In a five set thriller the Dalhousie Tigers and Laval Rouge et Or battled in their first interlock action of the weekend, with Laval taking the match 3-2.

In the first set the Tigers came out attacking building up a 16-11 at the technical time out. Coming out of the time out, however, Laval came back with a fury going on a big run and taking the lead 20-19. With the score close, the Tigers and Rouge et Or found themselves knotted at 22 before Matthew Donovan (London, ON) put the set away with a timely kill and ace to end it.

In a reverse of the first set it was Laval who found themselves on top early leading 16-11 at the technical, however the second set continued with the competitive play and late into the second the score was 20-19 for the Rouge et Or. Rouge et Or player Alexandre Obomsawin (Ottawa, ON), helped put the set away as he went on a service spree getting the last 3 points of the set, including an ace to get to set point.

With the set score tied at one, both teams were determined to take the set. The score reflected this as the back and forth action only allowed a three point lead at any given time. Dal started to pull away late opening up a 24-19 lead and looked to take the third set, before errors by the Tigers allowed Laval to grab three points and pull the set within reach at 24-22. After a lively rally the Tiger's Jeffrey Walton (Halifax ,NS) managed to get the kill and clinch the set 25-22.

Laval made sure to come out hot in the fourth set jumping out to a 5-0 lead before forcing a Tigers timeout to regroup. After the timeout the Tigers clawed back within two to make the score 10-8 for Laval but going into the technical the Rouge et Or once again strung together points to lead 16-9. The Rouge et Or continued putting the pressure on with Chhavanith Ponn (Quebec,QC) and Vicente P. Villalobos (Santiago, Chilie) contributing the final points of the set leading Laval to the win and forcing a fifth and final set.

In the fifth and final set the Tigers and Rouge et Or were trading points early on before Laval got out to a 10-5 lead, with the Tigers calling a timeout. The time out proved not to be enough as Laval continued to attack. On the back of Ethan Ellison's (Toronto, ON) hot serving the Rouge et Or won the set 15-7 and took the match 3-2

Chhavanith Ponn led the way for Laval totaling 17 kills and 20 points, Vicente P. Villalobos also played a big part in the win grabbing 18 points and the Subway Player of the Game. For the Tigers Donovan had 13 kills and accumulated 18 points on the night.

Both teams continue interlock action tomorrow, as Laval faces UNB and the Tigers take on Montreal, and Sherbrooke.