Oyler leads TIgers in loss to Vert et Or

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Dalhousie fell to Sherbrooke in a four-set match at Dalplex on Saturday afternoon, with scores of 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 23-25. Dalhousie recorded 55 kills, while Sherbrooke capitalized on 12 total blocks to secure the victory.

The first set began with Sherbrooke taking an early lead, capitalizing on a Dalhousie attack error and a kill by Gregoire Mercier-Noel. Dalhousie responded to the initial deficit with a series of errors from Sherbrooke, including service errors and attack errors, allowing them to tie and eventually take the lead. Jacob Oyler played a pivotal role for Dalhousie, contributing several kills, including a service ace that helped extend their advantage to 8-5, prompting a Sherbrooke timeout. Despite a series of successful plays by Justin Roy for Sherbrooke, Dalhousie maintained their lead throughout the set. The set concluded at 25-20 in favor of Dalhousie, sealed by a service error from Sherbrooke's Raphael Dhaene.

Sherbrooke took the second set from Dalhousie with a 25-22 victory, aided by a strong performance from Olivier Ducharme, who was instrumental in several scoring plays. Dalhousie closed the gap late in the set, tying the score at 17-17 with a service ace from Dillan Morphet, prompting a Sherbrooke timeout. Despite Dalhousie's surge, the Vert et Or regained control with a series of kills, including a pivotal one by Gregoire Mercier-Noel, which helped them edge ahead. A final block by Thierry Allen on an attack from Morphet secured the set for Sherbrooke.

Sherbrooke claimed the third set with a 25-21 victory over Dalhousie, driven by a series of key plays. Early errors by Dalhousie, including attack errors by Oyler and Gavin Johnson, helped Sherbrooke establish a 5-2 lead. Sherbrooke's Olivier Ducharme facilitated multiple successful attacks, notably assisting Justin Roy and Nathan Lalumiere during pivotal moments. Dalhousie fought back to tie the set at 13-13 with contributions from Morphet and Samuel Gallagher, but the Vert et Or regained control. A decisive run featuring blocks by Roy and Lalumiere extended Sherbrooke's lead to 24-20. The set concluded with a kill by Roy, securing the win for Sherbrooke.

During the fourth set, Sherbrooke capitalized on early errors by Dalhousie to take a 4-1 lead, with Roy contributing significantly with a kill. Dalhousie fought back, tying the score at 6-6 through a series of successful plays, including multiple kills by Oyler, assisted by Gallagher. The set remained tightly contested, with both teams exchanging points until Sherbrooke's Roy, set up by Ducharme, secured crucial kills at 24-23 and 25-23 to clinch the set for Sherbrooke. Despite Dalhousie's efforts, service errors proved costly in the closing stages.

Gallagher recorded 41 assists and added nine digs, contributing significantly to the team's playmaking efforts. Morphet contributed 14 kills and 10 digs, finishing with a total of 15 points. Oyler led the team in scoring with 19 points, collecting 16 kills and two solo blocks. Lucas Condon-O. posted three solo blocks and tallied five kills, providing a strong defensive presence.

The Tigers head to Fredericton next weekend to battle the UNB REDS.