U SPORTS Top 10: Women’s volleyball heads to holiday break at No. 9

The Brock Badgers women’s volleyball team is riding a seven-game winning streak as they conclude the first half of their season. 

Women’s Volleyball (8-2) – No. 9   
Last Week: No. 9  
Highest Ranking: No. 9 (Nov. 25, Dec. 2)   
Week in U SPORTS Top 10: Four (Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 25, Dec. 2) 

Brock continues to hold the No. 9 spot in the Top 10 rankings after a two-match sweep of the Ottawa Gee-Gees in Ottawa. 

On Friday, Nov. 29, the Badgers swept the Gee-Gees 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-11) in convincing fashion. Laurin Ainsworth, a fourth-year outside hitter, led all scorers with 18 points off 16 kills, one service ace and one block. Sophomore middle Emma Baruchelli finished with 11 points from three kills, six service aces and two blocks to help the Badgers’ cause. 

The next night on Saturday, Nov. 30, Emily Foest’s 16 kills helped power the Badgers to a gritty 3-2 victory (17-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-13) over the Ottawa squad. Foest scored the crucial kill to tie things up at 13-13 in the final frame before firing off a tough float serve for the ace and the 15-13 fifth-set win. Three other Badgers were in double-digit kills in Sadie Dick (12), Laurin Ainsworth (10) and Emma Baruchelli (10). 

Up next, the Badgers are off until the new year when they host the Windsor Lancers at Bob Davis Gymnasium for two matches on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.