BRANDON – Disappointed after their opening night loss, the Montreal Carabins bounced back to beat the host Brandon Bobcats on Saturday and earn a spot in the consolation final of the CIS Women's Volleyball Championship.

Marie-Alex Belanger had 15 kills, 15 digs and two service aces as the Carabins won 25-15, 28-26, 25-20 to set up a match for fifth place with the Dalhousie Tigers on Sunday.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wvball/index
 
Belanger said the Carabins were more relaxed and played better as a team than they did in Friday's quarter-final loss to the UBC Thunderbirds.

"Our middles were really good today and our setter too," Belanger said. "Actually we played as a team and we served better than yesterday."

The Carabins got off to a fast start and led the entire first set. The second set was much closer as BU had a 24-23 lead but was unable to convert match point. With the score tied 26-26, the Bobcats believed that Montreal's Adryanna Dorismond-Rodrigue touched the ball twice consecutively, but play continued and the Carabins won the next two points before completing the sweep in the third set.

While he called the timing of the disputed play unfortunate, Bobcats head coach Lee Carter refused to dwell on the moment and instead praised his players for the way they played this week.

"We had the hardest draw ever," said Carter, whose team was seeded eighth and lost to the top-seeded Trinity Western Spartans and fourth-seeded Carabins. "You give us the seventh seed and we could be in a national final. We had to play the number one seed, and Montreal is a big, physical team. We showed we belonged with all of them. I'm not disappointed at all in how we performed and how we played."

Gillian Leech, who had eight kills for the Bobcats, was also disappointed by the result but thrilled to have taken part in the national championship.

"It was a blast," she said. "I couldn't ask for anything more. The staff and all the volunteers were so great and then the crowd (on Friday) was unbelievable. I've never played in front of a crowd like that in my entire life, so to be able to do this with this team, some of my best friends, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life."

The Carabins won't be leaving with the prize they wanted either, but head coach Olivier Trudel said his players still want to make the most of the week.

"The national championship is about winning three games. You're not happy when you lose one, especially not the first one," he said. "I think we're a team that could medal, and obviously should have medalled, so it's disappointing. I think now it's much more about the honour."

 
STAT LEADERS                                                                                                      e
 
Complete Stats: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wvball/2016/championship
 
Montreal
Kills: Marie-Alex Belanger (15), Alexane L. Joly (8)
Points: Marie-Alex Belanger (18), Sarah Gosselin (11)

Blocks: Sarah Gosselin (1,6)

Digs: Marie-Alex Belanger (15)
Service aces: Adrianna Dorismond-Rodrigue, Marie-Alex Belanger, Katia Forcier (2)
 
Player of the match: Katia Forcier
 

Brandon

Kills: Gillian Leech, Courtney Roberts (8)
Points: Courtney Roberts (12), Shanlee McLennan (9)
Blocks: Courtney Roberts (0,6)
Digs: Donata Huebert (8)
Service aces: Shanlee McLennan, Courtney Roberts, Nikki Majewski, Jodie Baker (1)
 
Player of the match: Jodie Baker