SMU clinches 2nd place with 3-0 win over Acadia

(HALIFAX, NS) – Sophomore Olivia Bell (La Have, NS) and fifth-year Jamie Rourke (Mission, BC) each recorded eight kills on Friday night as the SMU volleyball team defeated Acadia in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-9).

The Huskies finish 13-7 on the year in Atlantic University Sport play while Acadia drops to 12-9.

How Sweep It Is

The Huskies and Axewomen began the first set exchanging points, as both teams were tied 6-6 early on. SMU opened the game, taking a 14-11 lead before the Huskies used a 5-0 run to lead 19-11. A 3-1 Axewomen spurt saw Acadia trailing 20-14. Saint Mary's would finish the set 25-16 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The second set started much like the first, with the teams tied early 2-2. An Acadia kill pushed the Axewomen up 3-2 when a 7-0 SMU run saw the Huskies leading 9-3. SMU doubled up Acadia 16-8 midway and 18-10 thru the set. Acadia chopped their way back to within five, 19-14. Saint Mary's went on to win the second set by a score of 25-17, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

SMU jumped ahead 6-3 early in the third and final set and would push its lead to 11-3. The Huskies continued to push the Axewomen after the break, extending their lead to 15-5. Trailing 16-6 midway thru the set, Acadia took their final timeout. Senior Hannah Duncan's (Halifax, NS) block put SMU up 23-9 and the Huskies would not be denied the sweep, and took take the third set 25-9, and the match 3-0.

Following solid a performance at Dalhousie last weekend, Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) recorded eight kills and 11 digs for Acadia. Hannah Helm (Halifax, NS) and Taylor Collombin (Victoria, BC) each added four kills and Becky Dorsey (Toronto, ON) had a game-high 18 digs while Sydney Zakutney (Ottawa, ON) had 10 assists.

Anna Watt (Calgary, AB) added seven kills and 10 digs for SMU while Bethany Smith (Moncton, NB) chipped in five and Renee Celevland (Saint-Martin, NS) had a team-high 15 digs. Dartmouth's Emilla Conlon paced SMU with 26 assists.

Up Next

The Huskies finish the AUS season with 26 points.

Acadia has 24 and Dal with 36 points and both end the regular season February 15 2:30 pm at Dal.

UNB has 24 points also and all four teams make up the 2020 Subway AUS Women's Volleyball Championships playoff pool.

Friday's game was Senior Day for the Huskies as fifth-year players Emilla Conlon, Jamie Rourke and seniors Hannah Duncan and Anna Watt played their final regular-season game.

Dominic Nolasco, SMU

Photo Nick Pearce