Thomson injured as V-ball Martlets stumble in FLA
CLEARWATER, FLA -- The No.-10-ranked Martlets spent the
Christmas break in Clearwater, Florida for a three-game tournament
against CIS teams.
However, the weather may have been the best part of the trip: the
Martlets lost two out of three games to unranked opponents at the
Innisbrook Resort Volleyball Invitational, Dec, 28-30.
The University of Western Ontario Mustangs lost only one set on
Dec. 28, to defeat the Martlets 3-1.
McGill All-Canadian power-hitter Jennifer Thomson, a senior from
Rosemere, Que., suffered shoulder and back injuries in the
opening game and played the remainder of the match in the libero
position, which is less stressful on the body. She was credited
with 14 kills, 19 digs, one stuff block and a 2.52 passing ratio
before being injured. As a libero, she registered 17 digs and a
2.84 passing ratio.
The Martlets followed that up with an easy 3-0 victory over the
Acadia Axewomen the next day, but then fell to the UNB Varsity Reds
3-0 to close out the tourney.
Junior Kelsey Irwin and sophomore Alexandra Sheppard, both natives
of Vancouver, B.C., posted some solid performances.
Irwin, a 6-foot middle blocker, had 29 kills, a pair of aces, 19
digs and four stuff blocks.
The 5-foot-11 Sheppard posted 17 kills, five aces and 32
digs.
At 18-10 overall, the Martlets are right in the thick of the race
for the Quebec league, with a 11-4 regular season mark and sit tied
with Laval for second place behind the top-ranked and undefeated
Montreal Carabins.
League play resumes this Friday night on the road against
Sherbrooke, but the Martlets return home on Saturday to face the
Laval Rouge et Or at 6 p.m. at Love Competition Hall.