The Warriors women’s volleyball team knows exactly who they are.
They know how to handle momentum swings, and how to adapt. They know all about the offensive firepower they have, and the reputation that precedes them as a high-flying group. And most importantly, they know that they’re so much more than just the kills column in the box score – and they know they can win with defense and patience, or with sheer offensive force.
The Warriors women’s volleyball team knows this, because they showed it on Saturday afternoon’s OUA quarterfinal match against the TMU Bold. In a stifling performance of defense up front, the Warriors registered an outrageous 19 blocks to help fuel a 3-1 victory (25-23, 25-27, 25-18, 25-14). The win moves Waterloo on to the OUA semi-finals, where they’ll host the seventh-seed Queen’s Gaels next weekend at the PAC.
“I thought our team executed the gameplan well,” said head coach Richard Eddy. “I give credit to our opponent for strong defensive play.”
Sarah Glynn (Fredericton, NB) and Jennifer Zhu (Oakville, ON/) were dynamic in the victory, both notching 14 kills. But the defense of Grace Crooks (Ottawa, ON/) and Lauren Hebert (Burlington, ON/) frustrated the Bold all day – Crooks led the way with 5.5 blocks, while Hebert notched 5.
Waterloo came out firing and took an early first-set lead, holding TMU to just 9 kills with 9 errors in the first set. But the plucky sixth seed pushed hard, and the Warriors had to hold on to a narrow 25-23 victory in the opening set.
It was much the same story in the second set, with Crooks and Hebert pacing the way at the net defensively. But despite being down 22-13, the Bold climbed their way back into the set with six straight points. Then, the visitors fought off three set points to tie things at 24 apiece, before claiming the second set 27-25.
A less experienced team might have started to show cracks. The second set was all but won, until the furious comeback made it a best-of-three match. The Warriors, however, still knew that there was no need to panic – they still knew who they were.
That assertion was evident in the third set, where the Warriors again claimed an early lead. This time, they were paced by Zhu, who finished with a game-high 19.5 points. And this time, they made sure to finish the set strong. TMU was held to 11 kills and 9 errors in the third set, as they frantically searched for a solution to the Waterloo defense.
Sensing it was there for the taking, the fourth set was Waterloo’s best. Great teams know how to end a match when it’s time, and the Warriors pieced together a dominant final set. Glynn and Zhu traded kills to close out the match, and send the Warriors on to the semis.
The Warriors will host the Gaels next Saturday, with a spot in the Quigley Cup final on the line.
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