Tigers defeat Huskies in four sets at Dalplex

HALIFAX, NS - The Dalhousie Tigers defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19) in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action on Friday night at the Dalplex in Halifax.

The Tigers went up 10-6 early, but the Huskies came alive and after a net violation they were back even and Alena Piatukhova's block gave SMU the one point lead to force their opponents to call a timeout.

The teams traded two points out of the break, but after Megan Bruhm (Hubley, NS) forced her coach to get out his seat to keep the ball in play, Olivia Bell (LaHave Island, NS) slapped down two vicious spikes that you would have missed if you blinked.

Saint Mary's took the lead and hung onto it off the back of Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, BEL) who contributed four of the last five points and Bell capped off the first set win with a kill of her own to take it 25-20.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Olivia Bell finishes off the first set with a kill! Huskies take the first set 25-20 over the Tigers! pic.twitter.com/DRsl8nFRGI

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 9, 2024

Last season's AUS MVP, Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) slammed down four kills early in the new set, and Paris Stewart (Halifax, NS) added a kill to give Dalhousie a small 9-6 lead.

The Tigers continued to add to their lead to make it 15-10, and after Saint Mary's decided to talk things over, Bell spiked down a kill, but Stewart and Talia Vydykhan (Hammonds Plains, NS) each responded with emphatic kills.

Dalhousie continued to add to their lead to make it 21-15, and after Saint Mary's brought it back to a three point lead, Vydykhan cocked her arm way back and delivered a massive spike to take the set 25-20.

In a vital third set that could put the losing team in do or die mode, Glen-Carter's cheeky tip grew a 4-2 lead, but after some miscommunication by the Tigers, the Huskies were back in the lead 7-5.

After they fought for their lead back, Dalhousie added to it to make the score 15-12, but Saint Mary's fought back again to make it 16 even.

Glen-Carter's ace capped off a five point streak, and Grace Calnan (Cole Harbour, NS) made sure to end the set when she tipped the ball over and DAL escaped with a 25-21 win.

After Saint Mary's had advantage for the first five points, DAL took the lead and increased it all the way to 12-7, but Bell's kill gave the Huskies life, yet Glen-Carter took it away with a massive spike and made it a 17-12 lead.

Dalhousie's libero Rebecca MacDonnell (Mount Uniacke, NS) made dazzling saves off of Mikanovich's massive spike on two straight points, and the Tigers were three points away from a win.

Saint Mary's came back to give DAL pressure, but Stewart ended the night with a kill to finish the set 25-19 and leave the Dalplex tied with UNB for third in the AUS.

Hannah Ropret took home player of the game for her consistent passing and solid defensive play. The win moves Dalhousie up to a tie with the UNB REDS in third place.

The teams will travel down Robie St. to Saint Mary's on Saturday to face each other again, with first serve scheduled at 7 p.m. GET TICKETS

Recap by Ethan Hunt / Dalhousie Tigers Athletics
Photos by Nick Pearce / Dalhousie Tigers Athletics