(London, Ontario) – The Fanshawe Women's Volleyball team (0-5) fell to the St. Clair Saints (5-1) in a thrilling five-set match on Wednesday evening at home.
The Falcons started the first set with a bang. A great dig by first-year Charlee Akehurst (Kitchener, ON) and a tremendous kill by Grace McLean (Dorchester, ON) forced an early St. Clair timeout. Up 9-4, Hannah Onyema (St. Thomas, ON) recorded a kill and Sammie Gibson (London, ON) followed with another kill on back-to-back plays. Onyema and the Falcons continued to dominate as Onyema smashed two more hits that the visitors could not return. Akehurst would outsmart her opponents later in the set after tipping the ball over a pair of St. Clair blockers to gain a point for the Birds. To go up 20-15, setter Ally Taylor (Regina, SK) tricked the Saints and increased Fanshawe's lead after dumping the set onto the visitor's side. The Saints then closed in on Fanshawe's lead and things were tied up at 22-22. On the next play, outside hitter Taryn Elgersma (London, ON) smashed a rocket to record a crucial kill for the Falcons. After great determination, the Birds took the first set 25-23.
Down four in the second set, Onyema scored the first point for the Birds while executing a beautiful tip over the Saints. She recorded her fifth point with a tip a few plays later. A terrific ace by Taylor kept the Falcons in reach to take over the visitor's advantage. The Falcons continued to make smart reads throughout the set and the score stood at 17-15 for the Saints. McLean then made a stellar cross-court hit to add to Fanshawe's score. Despite the Falcons' efforts, they dropped set two 25-17.
A setter-dump by third-year Taylor would score the Birds early in the set. To tie the game up at 5-5, McLean adjusted to Taylor's set mid-air to record a dynamite kill. Later, Sammie Gibson (London, ON) and Elgersma killed powerful sets to decrease St. Clair's lead, but the visitors remained in control and took set three 25- 13.
A monster block by Onyema would put the Birds up 3-0 in the fourth set. Onyema followed up with a vicious kill that landed at Fanshawe's opponent's feet. Tied at 10, Onyema and Elgersma recorded kills on consecutive plays. Onyema came up huge for the Falcons, consistently blocking the St. Clair hitters to assist Fanshawe's lead increase. With the score at 23-21, Taylor spiked a St. Clair free ball to give the Birds 24 points. Unfortunately, the Saints would not go away and fought back to take the advantage. An amazing kill by McLean would tie things at 25. Then two Onyema kills would tie the set at 26 and 27. After long rallies and a hard-fought set, the Birds won set four 31-29 with late clutch points from third-year Gibson.
The Birds and Saints were neck and neck to start the final set of the match. A back-row set from Taylor was hammered by Elgersma to gain a point for the Falcons. At 8-5, the Birds scored on consecutive plays from an Onyema kill and smart net play by Gibson to creep in on the visitor's lead. After a great match, St. Clair were the victors and Fanshawe dropped set five 15-11.
The Falcons look to pick up their first win of the season during their next match against the Mohawk Mountaineers (4-1) in front of the home crowd on Tuesday, November 14 at 6:00 p.m.
