Tigers fall to Vert et Or in straight sets.

The Dalhousie Tigers fell to the Sherbrooke Vert et Or in straight sets, 3-0 (20-25, 18-25, 17-25), on Friday at Yvon Lamarche.

The first period saw Dalhousie start strong with an early 4-1 lead, capitalizing on the Vert et Or's service errors and attack errors, including a block by Michael Donovan and Matthew McCarvell at the 3rd point. The Vert et Or fought back, tying the score at 15-15 with a series of kills from Yoan David and Elliott Collard, and a service ace by Elliott Collard at the 29th point. Dalhousie regained momentum briefly but struggled with attack errors, allowing their opponents to extend their lead. The Vert et Or closed the period with two service aces by Hugo Ouellet, securing a 25-20 victory.

The second period began with the Vert et Or taking an early lead, capitalizing on a service error by Josh DeYoung at the 58th play. Dalhousie responded with a series of plays, including a kill by Lucas Condon-Oldreiv and a Michael Donovan kill to briefly tie the score at 2-2. Sherbrooke maintained pressure with notable plays from Gregoire Mercier-Noel and Jonathan Portelance, who recorded back-to-back service aces at plays 76 and 77, prompting a timeout from Dalhousie. Despite a strong showing from Michael Donovan, who secured multiple kills, the Vert et Or pulled away with a decisive performance from Yoan David and Jonathan Portelance, culminating in a 25-18 win for the Vert et Or in the period.

The third period of the match saw the Vert et Or open with a quick point due to an attack error by Dalhousie's Matthew McCarvell. Sherbrooke capitalized on several service errors from both sides, maintaining a steady lead. Notably, Jonathan Portelance contributed two service aces in quick succession, helping Sherbrooke to a 13-8 advantage, which prompted a timeout from Dalhousie. Despite efforts from Michael Donovan, who recorded multiple kills, the Vert et Or maintained their momentum and secured the period with a 25-17 win, capped by a kill from Jérémie Rainville.

Michael Donovan has been a standout player for Dalhousie, contributing 14.5 points across three games. His performance includes 12 kills with a hitting percentage of .241 and a total of four blocks. Thomas Watchman also made a significant impact with 17 assists and a service ace, helping his team with 2.5 points. Jacob Oyler, although not on the court for every match, managed to secure 5.5 points with a hitting percentage of .167 and one block assist in three appearances. These players have been key contributors in their respective areas, showcasing their skills and statistics over the course of the season.

Dalhousie holds a conference record of zero wins and four losses. Sherbrooke leads with a strong overall record of nine wins and one loss.

The Vert et Or and Tigers hold a re-match on Saturday at 2pm AT.