Rowing snags five national medals

A week after finishing second in Ontario, Queen’s women’s rowing team reached the national podium in Montreal.

Spurred by four individual and team medals at last weekend’s Canadian University Rowing Championships (CURC), the women won the overall bronze medal, while the men’s side placed fifth in the country.

The Gaels took home two individual silvers at McGill, with second-place finishes from second-year Larkin Davenport-Huyer in the women’s heavyweight single and the women’s heavyweight eight crew.

The eight managed to outlast the Western Mustangs for the second straight race, after pulling out a narrow victory at the OUA championships.

Hindered by an equipment malfunction to start their final race, the crew roared back to finish just one second back of first-place UBC.

Bronze-medal finishes from the lightweight women’s four and the heavyweight double duo of Isolda Penney and Meghan Robinson also contributed to the overall bronze.

Along with the women’s third-place finish, Gaels assistant coach Zola Mehlomakulu was named CURC women’s coach of the year.

On the men’s side, the veteran lightweight four of Jordan Rendall, Alan Payno-Montoya, Patrick McCrady and Chris Zakos won national bronze, after clinching silver at OUAs.

— Nick Faris

Men’s basketball perfect at home

The Gaels went two for two this weekend with convincing victories over the Lakehead Thunderwolves and the Guelph Gryphons.

In their home opener on Friday night, the Gaels bested the Thunderwolves by a score of 84-64.

Guard Roshane Roberts and forward Nikola Misljencevic led the scoring attack with 16 points apiece, while forward Mackenzie Simpson chipped in with a 14-point effort.

There was a dominant effort throughout as the Gaels led 42-27 at halftime and had no problems closing the game out. It was a character win against a Lakehead team that lost to Carleton in last season’s national final and still has several core players from that squad.

The Gaels took on the Gryphons on the back end of the homestand Saturday night, winning handily by a score of 88-64.

Queen’s put on a defensive clinic all night, holding Guelph to just two points in the first quarter.

The Gaels’ strength and physical play proved to be too much for a young Gryphons squad, as it seemed nothing was getting past Queen’s stingy defence, anchored by Misljencevic.

Star guard Greg Faulkner was Mr. Everything, racking up 23 points and 11 rebounds while playing lockdown defence all night.

Roberts dropped 11 points and Simpson added 10 in the victory.

Nine Gaels players played upwards of 15 minutes, exemplifying Queen’s complete team effort.

— Jordan Cathcart

Men’s volleyball cruises past RMC

The men’s volleyball team improved to 2-0 with a sweep of RMC in their home opener.

The Gaels dominated the Paladins (0-2) on Sunday afternoon, winning the match in three straight sets.

Queen’s prevailed 25-19 in the first set, 25-22 in the second and 25-13 in the final frame.

Outside hitters Stephen Holmes and Philippe Goyer led the team’s attack, putting up 12 and 11 points respectively. New starter Matt Bonshor played the majority of the game as setter and posted 31 assists.

Goyer now ranks third in the OUA in points per game with 4.0, and kills per game with 3.63.

The Gaels have managed to get off to an unbeaten start despite the absence of veteran hitters Mike Tomlinson and Tyler Scheerhoorn, who have been out with injuries since the preseason.

Queen’s will be out for revenge this weekend, as they’re set to host the York Lions (4-2). The game will be a rematch of last year’s OUA quarterfinal, in which York defeated Queen’s 3-2 to end the Gaels’ playoff campaign.

The Gaels will also face the Nipissing Lakers (0-6) on Saturday night.

This weekend will mark the first time in the regular season that the team will play back-to-back games, which will provide a good test for the developing squad.

— Sean Liebich

Women’s volleyball rolls at the ARC

Women’s volleyball topped the RMC Paladins in straight sets on Sunday to win their fifth straight home opener.

The win was the Gaels fourth consecutive sweep of the Paladins (0-3) and moves Queen’s record to 2-1 on the year.

The Gaels topped RMC 25-21 in the opening set, the only time the Paladins kept the score close.

Queen’s took the second set 25-13 before dominating RMC 25-7 in a third set that had the Gaels make no attacking errors.

Second-year outside hitter Brett Hagarty led the team with 11 kills, while fourth-year Kelsey Bishop added another seven.

Rookie setter Gabrielle Down contributed 17 of her club’s 34 assists on the day, while second-year middle Niki Slikboer had Queen’s lone block.

The Gaels’ next games come this weekend, as they host the nationally fourth-ranked York Lions (5-0) Friday, before taking on the Nipissing Lakers (0-5) the next day.

Queen’s faced York twice last season, losing both matches. Meanwhile, their contest with Nipissing is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

— Sean Sutherland