The Waterloo Warriors came out on the wrong end of the biggest match of the OUA volleyball season on Friday night against the Ryerson Rams. But if everything goes to plan, they'll get another shot at the defending national champions next month.
In a possible OUA championship preview, the Rams topped the Warriors in four sets (25-10, 20-25, 25-14, 25-16) in the showdown of the two top teams in the province at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. The result snaps the Warriors' 14-match winning streak, dropping their record to 14-1, while the Rams solidified their position as the top team in the East division, improving to 14-2.
Ryerson's Lauren Veltman was a major problem for the Warriors, as the OUA all-star put up a match-high 18 kills, with a success rate of .441. Waterloo's offensive attack was led by Sarah Glynn (Fredericton/) and Claire Mackenzie (Vancouver/), who registered 13 and 12 kills, respectively. The Warriors just couldn't find their offensive rhythm in the match, as the Ryerson defense forced the visitors into a team kill percentage of .170, compared to the Rams' .411.
The hosts came out firing in the opening set, taking seven of the first eight points. The Warriors couldn't fight their way back into the set, as the Rams took it by a surprising 25-10 margin.
But the Warriors, ranked fourth in the nation coming into the match, showed their mettle in the second set. Led by three service aces early on – two from Claire Gagne (Cambridge/) and one from Brooklyn Gallant (Cambridge/) – the Warriors jumped to a four-point lead in the set. Waterloo extended their cushion to eight points later on in the set, evening the match with a 25-20 victory in the second set.
But the Rams once again pushed back, using some explosive runs to grab the final two sets of the match. In the third set, Ryerson registered two separate 5-0 runs en route to a 25-14 victory, before counting seven of the first nine points to take control of the fourth.
The Warriors will now look to bounce back from their first loss of the season, as they return home for a date with the Guelph Gryphons on Sunday, February 10. First serve from the Physical Activities Complex is slated for 4pm.
