RSEQ VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINAL PREVIEW: Surprising Sherbrooke squad meets mighty McGill Martlets

MONTREAL – The third-place Sherbrooke Vert & Or will open the playoffs against second-seeded McGill in an RSEQ women’s volleyball semifinal series this weekend.
 
The best-of-three affair begins on Friday (Feb. 23) with a 6:30 p.m. start at McGill’s Love Competition Hall. Game 2 is slated to be a Saturday matinee, with a 4 p.m. tip-off at Sherbrooke’s Centre sportif. Should a deciding game be needed, it is scheduled back in Montreal on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
Tickets must be purchased online and are $15 for general admission, $10 for McGill students and staff, and senior citizens (65+); and $5 for youths (16 and under).

ORDER TICKETS ONLINE

The provincial rivals posted identical 15-6 records in the eight-team RSEQ conference but McGill held the tie-breaker with a 2-1 record in head-to-head meetings.  Sherbrooke surprised the visiting Martlets 3-1 in the first confrontation on Oct. 15, winning 25-20, 22-25, 25-21 and 25-15.
 
McGill took the rematch 3-1 on home territory on Nov. 10. The set scores were 25-19, 23-25, 25-21 and 25-19.  The Martlets swept the third meeting 3-0 on the road, on Jan. 12. The set scores were 25-23, 26-24 and 25-21.
 
This will be the eighth time in history that these teams will cross paths in post-season play and Sherbrooke holds a 4-3 lead.
 
PLAYOFF HISTORY: The last time these rivals crossed paths in the post-season was in 2022, when second-place McGill (9-3) swept the division-leading Vert & Or (9-3) in the conference finals, to capture the RSEQ championship for the first time in school history… In 2016, second-place McGill (15-7) defeated third-place Sherbrooke (15-7) 2-1 in the semifinal round… In 2011, fourth-place Sherbrooke (5-15) swept third-place McGill (10-10) in an RSEQ bronze medal game… In 2008, second-place Sherbrooke (16-5) defeated third-place McGill (15-6) by a 2-1 margin in a best-of-three semifinal series… In 2002, they met in the finals, with third-place Sherbrooke (7-8) upsetting division-leading McGill (8-7) to win the best-of-three league championship series 2-1… In 1997, second-place McGill (9-5) defeated third-place Sherbrooke (9-7) by a 3-2 score in a semifinal series… In 1995, second-place Sherbrooke (7-5) defeated third-place McGill (6-6) by a 3-1 margin in a semifinal series.

All games will be streamed with live stats available as well.
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca