In game one on Saturday, the Badgers got off to a rapid start looking to remain undefeated in the Limestone City.
Brock opened the first set with a 4-0 and 7-1 advantage, in large part to Kylar Code’s two kills and an ace in the first eight points of the match, as well as a variety of miscues by Queen’s. The Gaels committed seven attack errors in the set – the most in any set all weekend – as well as five service errors, leading to 12 of Brock’s 25 points.
The combination of Badger dominance and the Gaels’ mistakes led to Queen’s dropping their first set of the season, 25-16. However, the tenacious Gaels responded with a statement in the second.
In net play, the Gaels had 12 kills in the set and only one attack error, while the Badgers managed six kills – their lowest in the game – and three attack errors.
The service game was what really separated these teams in the set. Queen’s had seven of their 17 aces in the set, including on set point, while Brock only placed four aces in the entirety of the game. The Gaels took the second set 25-16.
In the third, the Badgers were the sloppy team, committing nine attack errors which led to an appalling attacking percentage of negative 0.5 per cent. The only thing that kept Brock in the set was that the Gaels misplaced their serves, leading to eight service errors and points on the board for the Badgers.
But when it mattered most, the serve was what won the Gaels the set, as Queen’s Erik Siksna recorded two of his game-high six aces to close the third set with the 25-20 win.
The fourth set was much of the same as the service game both helped and hindered the Badgers. The Badgers benefited from seven Gael service errors in the set, but Brock committed five service errors themselves, including one on match point. The inability to convert serves led the Badgers to dropping the fourth set 25-18 for their first loss of the season.
Luckily for the Badgers, they had an opportunity to avenge their loss the next day in a rematch with the Gaels.
Queen’s, on the other hand, was looking to remain undefeated and were on the right track to doing so right from the opening serve.
Queen’s dominance was imminent, as they started the game up 4-1 and 7-3, never giving up the lead, to take the opening set 25-21.
In the second, the Badgers got an early lead thanks to Gaels errors and a kill by Devin Cooney, but the lead never surpassed two points.
After a back-and-forth opening to the set, Queen’s took control by stringing together a 4-0 run to take the lead. The Gaels maintained that lead to win the second set 25-18, to push the Badgers to the brink of dropping their second consecutive game in Kingston.
With the opportunity to remain undefeated, the Gaels looked poised offensively, registering 11 kills while not committing an attack error.
Once again, the service game was a main factor in the set as the team combined for 17 service errors – eight by Brock and nine by Queen’s – as the serve was the theme all weekend.
With the Badgers facing match point, the Gaels aced a serve – their 14th ace of the match and 31st of the weekend – to win the third set 25-21 and sweep the Badgers.
Next up, the Badgers will be eager to get back in the win column when they close out their first half schedule at home, hosting the Trent Excalibur on Dec. 1st and 2nd at the Bob Davis Gymnasium. For more information on the Badgers men’s volleyball team, head to gobadgers.ca.