Tigers beat Rouge et Or

The Dalhousie Tigers defeated the Université Laval Rouge et Or 3-1 on Saturday at Sexton Gym.

The first set of the match between Dalhousie and the Rouge et Or saw a back-and-forth battle with numerous lead changes. Dalhousie started strong with a kill by Michael Donovan, assisted by Samuel Gallagher, but the Rouge et Or quickly tied the game through Max Losier's efforts, aided by Charles St-Aubin. The teams exchanged points, remaining tied at 6-6 and later at 14-14, showcasing competitive play from both sides. However, a late surge by Dalhousie, highlighted by multiple kills from Michael Donovan and Dillan Morphet, allowed them to pull ahead and secure the set with a score of 25-21.

The second set between Dalhousie and the Rouge et Or began with Charles St-Aubin of the Rouge et Or scoring a service ace, setting the early tone for the visitors. Dalhousie responded with a kill by Jacob Oyler from Samuel Gallagher, leveling the score at 1-1. Several service errors were committed by both teams, contributing to a closely contested match, but the Rouge et Or capitalized on Dalhousie's errors to build a 14-8 lead, prompting a timeout by Dalhousie. Despite a late push with Michael Donovan's kills from Gallagher, the Rouge et Or maintained their advantage and closed the set with a 25-20 win, highlighted by Miguel Dumetz's service ace near the end.

The third set began with the Rouge et Or taking an early lead, but Dalhousie quickly tied the score at 2-2 with a kill by Jacob Oyler set up by Samuel Gallagher. Dalhousie then went on a scoring streak, gaining four consecutive points to lead 6-3, supported by a service ace from Samuel Gallagher. The Rouge et Or managed a comeback to level the score at 10-10, with significant contributions from Max Losier. Dalhousie and the Rouge et Or exchanged points closely until the end, with Dalhousie ultimately pulling ahead to win the set 26-24, clinching the victory with an attack error by Max Losier.

In the fourth set, Dalhousie capitalized on multiple service errors from the Rouge et Or, including two early errors from Charles St-Aubin and Max Losier, to gain an early 6-1 lead. Samuel Gallagher played a key role, assisting on several kills, including two by Michael Donovan, helping to extend Dalhousie's advantage. Despite a brief rally from the Rouge et Or, which included a kill by Miguel Dumetz and a block by Jacob Gendron, Dalhousie maintained their lead, aided by a service ace from Dillan Morphet and additional kills from Donovan. The Rouge et Or called timeouts at scores of 14-9 and 20-14, but Dalhousie closed out the set 25-15, with several attack errors from the Rouge et Or contributing to Dalhousie's victory.

Michael Donovan was a standout for Dalhousie with 23 points, leading the team in scoring. His attack percentage was .447, with 22 kills on 38 attempts. Samuel Gallagher contributed significantly in setting, with 41 assists over four sets. Jacob Oyler was effective in attack, achieving a .350 hitting percentage with 10 kills and 20 total attempts. Oyler also added 11.5 points to his name, showcasing his all-around contribution to the team.

The Tigers wrap up their season on February 14 and 15 when they host the Montreal Carabins.