Thomson injured as V-ball Martlets stumble in FLA

CLEARWATER, FLA -- The No.-10-ranked Martlets spent the Christmas break in Clearwater, Florida for a three-game tournament against CIS teams.

However, the weather may have been the best part of the trip: the Martlets lost two out of three games to unranked opponents at the Innisbrook Resort Volleyball Invitational, Dec, 28-30.

The University of Western Ontario Mustangs lost only one set on Dec. 28, to defeat the Martlets 3-1.

McGill All-Canadian power-hitter Jennifer Thomson, a senior from Rosemere, Que.,  suffered shoulder and back injuries in the opening game and played the remainder of the match in the libero position, which is less stressful on the body. She was credited with 14 kills, 19 digs, one stuff block and a 2.52 passing ratio before being injured. As a libero, she registered 17 digs and a 2.84 passing ratio.

The Martlets followed that up with an easy 3-0 victory over the Acadia Axewomen the next day, but then fell to the UNB Varsity Reds 3-0 to close out the tourney.

Junior Kelsey Irwin and sophomore Alexandra Sheppard, both natives of Vancouver, B.C., posted some solid performances.

Irwin, a 6-foot middle blocker, had 29 kills, a pair of aces, 19 digs and four stuff blocks.

The 5-foot-11 Sheppard posted 17 kills, five aces and 32 digs.

At 18-10 overall, the Martlets are right in the thick of the race for the Quebec league, with a 11-4 regular season mark and sit tied with Laval for second place behind the top-ranked and undefeated Montreal Carabins.

League play resumes this Friday night on the road against Sherbrooke, but the Martlets return home on Saturday to face the Laval Rouge et Or at 6 p.m. at Love Competition Hall.