The McGill Martlet volleyball team enters its 2012-2013 campaign following an unexpected bronze medal at the CIS Championships last season. The team surged to another bronze medal finish this weekend in the 22nd annual Martlet Invitational at Love Competition Hall. Five teams from across Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritimes joined the Martlets for the latest edition of the tournament.
McGill’s pool-play commenced on Friday afternoon against the Memorial Seahawks. The Martlets breezed through the opener, posting a decisive straight set (29-27, 25-22, 25-20) win over the overwhelmed Seahawks. Both third-year power hitter Geneviève Plante and third-year right side Marie-Christine LaPointe provided all the fire power and defensive stability necessary to ensure the seamless victory. Memorial placed fifth in the tournament overall.
The next match was against the Waterloo Warriors on Friday evening, and it turned out to be a spirited and passionate affair. McGill dominated the beginning of the match and claimed the first set by a score of 25-15. However, in the second, Waterloo took advantage of costly Martlet hitting errors en route to a match-tying 25-22 win. The teams then split the third and fourth sets in similar fashion to set the stage for the first-to-15, deciding fifth set. Leaning heavily on their veteran setter Marcela Mansure for leadership, the Martlets ultimately claimed the game 24-22.
The win earned McGill a place in the semifinals against retuning champions, the Saint Mary’s Huskies. However, the semifinal was a heartbreaker for the Martlets. Despite the reliable setting of Mansure, and stable team defending, McGill seemingly had no answer for the consistent and powerful play of the Huskies. Although the sides split the opening sets, St. Mary’s went on to win the final two sets by the slimmest of 27-25 margins. Despite the defeat, explosive rookie power hitter Catherine Amyot was a bright spot for the Martlets. Head Coach Rachèle Béliveau weighed in on the new and exciting prospect.
“She is doing really well actually. I know she was a good player, very agile, but for her first time playing at this level she is doing really, really well.” Béliveau said.
After the loss, McGill gathered itself over Saturday evening and prepared for the bronze medal match against the Montreal Carabins. Historically the thorn in the Martlets’ sides, the Carabins looked off-balance and out-of-whack all weekend, and this carried through the bronze medal game. The Martlets took advantage and were rolling from the start. They led the entire way, and claimed the bronze in three straight sets (27-25, 25-20, 25-17). Sherbrooke defeated St. Mary’s in three sets to win gold.
The Martlets had a productive and strong preseason, amassing two bronze medals and a fourth-place finish over the course of three tournaments. Although the current roster is very different than the one that won the national bronze—injuries have claimed some starters, forcing others to play different positions—a few familiar faces remain.
“When you have a lot of new faces, not used to the level, it takes a lot of patience. So [I] try to teach them all about the experience, but all the rookies are great and they work really hard, so it makes it easier for us [returning players],” Mansure said.
While her team is talented, Béliveau noted that patience is a priority.
“We’re going to be very competitive in Quebec this year, we’re still going to go for it, but we are also preparing for a longer period of time.”
McGill opens its regular season schedule at the AUS Interlock in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Oct. 26.
