SMU sweeps UNB 3-0 in women’s volleyball

(Halifax, NS)—The Saint Mary's Huskies swept the visiting UNB Varsity Reds in three sets (25-10, 25-18, 25-16) on Sunday afternoon in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action from the Homburg Centre.

The Huskies used a game-high 12 kills from Kristina Alder (Brampton, ON) in the match as the Huskies improve to 2-2 in their last home match of the fall semester.

The first set saw SMU take the first two points followed by a four-point run by UNB to lead 4-2. After trading points in sets of two, SMU went on a 3-0 run and took a 7-6 lead. UNB tied it up at 7-all when SMU went on runs of four, three and five to lead 19-9. A 6-0 run closed out the set 25-10 for Saint Mary's.

Saint Mary's led 3-1 and 11-3 early in the second set with the help of great serving. The Huskies continued to add to their cushion over the next ten points, leading 17-7 halfway thru the second set. UNB played better down the stretch and trailed SMU 24-14. Four straight points saw the Varsity Reds within six, 24-18, when Alder had the last point in the second set with a kill and SMU took the set 25-18.

UNB took an early 4-1 lead in the third set and SMU caught up at 4-4. Trading points back and forth saw the third set tied 8-8 and 12-12. Three quick points by Saint Mary's saw the Huskies up 15-12 and another run of four had Saint Mary's leading 19-13 and continued their lead down the stretch with a final four-point run, 24-15. The Huskies won the set 25-16 and the match 3-0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-16).

Olivia Valenti (North Bay, ON) paced UNB with seven kills and 22 total attacks for nine total points in the loss and UNB drops to 0-5 on the year.

Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) added five kills and Robyn Anderson (Jaffray, BC) had four for UNB.

Anna Watt (Calgary, AB) managed double-digit kills with 10 for SMU while teammate Maddie Clarke (Ottawa, ON) had nine and Erin Smith (Moncton, NB) added four in the win.

Both teams are in action next weekend with the AUS League Tournament in Moncton, NB November 16^th-19^th on campus at U de Moncton. 

Dominic Nolasco

Photos Nick Pearce