Anna 
The McGill women’s volleyball team continued their impressive form on Thursday, sweeping UQTR 3-0 to tie the school record for consecutive wins with their eighth straight victory. The Martlets triumphed with set scores of 28-26, 25-21, and 25-18, extending another streak to 19 consecutive sets won.
This dominant performance marked the tying of the school’s all-time win streak, originally set during the 2018-19 season. McGill, which has not lost since a 3-0 defeat at Laval on November 22, also boasts an unbroken set streak since a fourth-set loss in a 3-2 win against Laval on January 12.
With two games left before the playoffs, McGill (12-7) moved into third place in the standings. However, the Martlets are under pressure, holding just a two-point lead over Laval (11-6) and a four-point lead over UQAM (10-7), both of which have two games in hand. For UQTR (4-14), the defeat effectively ended their playoff hopes.
“It was a much tougher game than the final score indicated,” said Rachele Beliveau, who is in her 34th season as McGill’s head coach. Beliveau was honored with a bouquet of flowers in a pre-game ceremony celebrating her remarkable career and contribution to the women’s sports movement. “UQTR is a good, fighting team that excels on defense. The atmosphere was intense, and the crowd was loud, making communication difficult. They played so well in the first set that we had to remain patient and adjust to earn our points.”
Power hitter Elyssa Lajmi led McGill with a game-high 13.5 points, followed by Rachel Leduc with 12 points and Charlotte Chouinard-Laliberte with 10.5. The match featured a defensive showdown, with a total of 140 digs, including a season-high 77 by McGill. Sophomore setter Selima Guidara led the team with 19 digs, alongside 31 assists, one ace, and one kill.
“The defense was incredible today on both sides,” Beliveau remarked. “They found a way to dig everything we hit. We had to elevate our defense to keep up with them. Our team passed for 2.09 out of 3, which is exceptional for us.”
McGill’s passing game featured standout performances from Emma Waskiewicz (2.17), Rachel Leduc (2.09), and Lajmi (2.0). The Martlets also led in kills (42-31), aces (5-3), and assists (40-29), though UQTR recorded 10 of the 15 blocks in the match.
UQTR’s top scorers were Marie-Pierre Gauvin (12.5 points) and Camille Fortier (10.5).
Looking ahead, McGill will conclude the regular season with two crucial home games. The Martlets will host UQAM (10-7) on Sunday, February 9 at 1 p.m., followed by a showdown against division leaders Montreal Carabins (16-1) on February 16. The final game will include a special sendoff for the team’s graduating seniors and a post-game tribute to Coach Beliveau.
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