Odigie got the crowd going
On Jan. 9, the Gee-Gee women’s volleyball team played Laval University in a nail-biting match. The game started in the afternoon and there were many spectators who were all eager to see the game begin.
As the first set began, Laval got the first point and the competitiveness was heard in the gym by the screams of Laval’s starting victory. But, the Gee-Gees continuously led throughout the first set, as their first few spikes were strong and direct. Between the spikes made by Gee-Gees second-year Audrey Odigie and third-year Janae McKay, and the dramatic save by U of O’s fourth-year Grace McKale, the team had the confidence and skill to win the first set, 25-19.
Although some may think that the first set creates a precedent for the rest of the game, this was not the case for this match. In the second set, the two teams were close, sometimes even tied.
But as soon after Laval’s Justine Raymond and Léonie Goupil blocked the spike from Odigie, Laval got into a groove and soon took the rest of the set by storm. One pattern that impacted this set was Laval’s ability to defend and block. Specifically, Raymond, Alexandryne Le Roy Audy and Léonie Goupil of Laval impressed the stands and carried the set. Laval won the second set 25-16.
Going into the third set, Laval was able to maintain their momentum and receive the first two points. Similarly to the second, the third set continued with both teams in similar point range. There were lots of impressive rallies, but many of them ended with the point going to Laval.
Odigie got the crowd going when in the same play, she served the ball and lined up the perfect strike with an impressive jump. But, Laval struck back multiple times as their strong hits were able to fly through the attempted blocks by the Gee-Gees. Even though Laval showed their skills in the third set, U of O was still able to win the set by a close 25-23.
The fourth set involved the teams being nervously close or tied. The highlights of this set included the spike by Ottawa’s Janae McKay, impressive diving saves by Odigie, a sleek block by Grace Mckale and a dive into the bench by Laval’s Éloïse Ross-Tremblay that resulted in a point for the Gees. The points were close and the two teams were tied at 24-24 and soon after 26-26. But Laval won the set when a hit by the Gee-Gees went out of bounds.
In the final fifth set, the score continued to be close. Laval was able to clearly identify where the Gee-Gee’s defence was lacking and adapt to the play. The set was once tied 10-10, which quickly changed when Gee-Gee third-year Maxim Langevin faked a volley and instead tapped the ball over to Laval’s court.
Laval’s Raymond and Le Roy Audy were able to block Odigie’s spike, but when she tried again in the next play, the Gee-Gees scored a point. Ottawa players Nicole Hildebrand and Janae McKay shined when they blocked the play by Laval’s Ross-Tremblay.
After a timeout was called with the score sitting at a close 14-13 for UOttawa, the Gees won when Odigie was able to finish the game with her strong spike.
Both teams played very impressively in this match and had the crowd intrigued. What’s better than an amazing game of volleyball?
