The women’s volleyball team opened their season last weekend in Thunder Bay, where they played a doubleheader against the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday and Sunday.
The Gaels won their season opener on Saturday 3-1 and repeated that scoreline on Sunday afternoon.
Outside hitter Natalie Gray recorded 10 kills and was named player of the game on Sunday after notching 12 kills and a game-high 25 digs. She said the team’s pre-season helped prepare them for a tough opening weekend.
“We attended three tournaments in the preseason which really helped us prepare for this past weekend at Lakehead,” she said. “We travelled to Lock Haven [Pennsylvania] most recently for a tournament. In Lock Haven, we played back-to-back games two days in a row which I feel really helped us prepare and have an edge for the two back-to-backs this weekend.” Gray said blocking and ing were the main sources of the Gaels’ success this past weekend.
“Shutting down big hitters not only scored us points, but gave us a huge boost mentally and emotionally,” she said. “It took the wind out of the sails of some Lakehead players. Our ing really stepped up in the second game, which allowed us to run our game plan and execute our offense.” After Saturday’s win, Gray said the Thunderwolves gave Queen’s reason to keep their egos in check for Sunday’s affair.
“Lakehead proved to be a tough team—a lot of improvement from previous years,” she said. “They gave us a run for our money in the first match.”
The Gaels travel to Ottawa next weekend to play the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, a match in which Gray said the team will hope to use the momentum is gained last weekend.
“We will definitely need to bring our ing and defence that we had in our games versus Lakehead,” she said. “Serving tough also played a factor in the wins. The most important thing to bring into this next game would be the team play and communication we played with in our second match on Sunday. If we keep that up Ottawa will be in for a tough match.”
Gray said next weekend in Ottawa won’t be a repeat of the Gaels’ home opener last year, which the Gee-Gees won in five sets.
“Last year they spoiled ours. … This year we look to spoil theirs.”
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