Huskies win sixth straight, defeating Sea-Hawks in four sets
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Memorial (4-4, 4-4) | 30 | 22 | 12 | 19 | 1 |
|
Saint Mary's (6-2, 6-2) | 28 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
HALIFAX, NS - The Saint Mary's Huskies won their sixth straight match, defeating the Memorial Sea-Hawks in four sets (28-30, 25-22, 25-12, 25-19) in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.
For the second straight match, the Sea-Hawks took the first set in thrilling fashion, once again by a score of 30-28. Memorial outside hitter Emily Aldous (Calgary, AB) started the match with three straight aces, and an ace from setter Karen Greek (Mount Pearl, NL) extend the Sea-Hawks lead to 10-5. But Saint Mary's came roaring back, with a kill from middle Anna Liniewski (Burnaby, BC) giving the Huskies their first lead of the match at 19-18.
The two teams continued to exchange points, and the Huskies had set point at 24-22, but the Sea-Hawks again came back, thanks to outstanding play from outside hitters Lydia Grawer (St. Louis, MO) and Olivia DeDecker (Kipling, SK), and Grawer's kill ended the set at 30-28 as Memorial took a 1-0 lead. The Sea-Hawks service was a strength in the opening set, as they delivered six aces.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2024
Emilia Mikanovich with a big kill, but the Sea-Hawks take the first set 30-28.
Watch live: https://t.co/podcMAAXsY pic.twitter.com/66rsXoZxDP
Finding themselves down early for the second straight day, the Huskies came out strong again in the second set, opening up a 16-8 lead after a service run from middle Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus).
Memorial responded, thanks in part to Emily Aldous continuing her tremendous service, with back-to-back aces to cut the lead to 17-14. A kill from Sea-Hawks outside hitter Courtney Hodder cut the Huskies lead to 22-20, but Saint Mary's closed the set strong, with strong service from outside hitter Breanna Golding (Pickering, ON) and a Piatukhova kill to seal the 25-22 second set victory and tie the match at a set a piece.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2024
Alena Piatukhova finishes off the second set as the Huskies take it 25-22 and tie the match at a set a piece! pic.twitter.com/Ng2jIywMW2
Saint Mary's seemed energized by the second set win, opening up an early 7-1 advantage off a service run from setter Glace Blaskovits (Kelowna, BC) and a pair of kills from right side Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS). A kill by left side Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) extended the Huskies lead to 12-3, but Memorial responded with a service run from middle Taylar Johnston, including two aces, to cut the lead to 12-10.
The Huskies took control of the set thanks to a service run from Sydney Fader, as the lead ballooned to 21-11, and a double block from Liniewski and Golding finished off the set with Saint Mary's winning 25-12 and taking a two set to one advantage.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2024
Huskies finish off the third set 25-12 to take a 2-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/gWGdZ60ddL
The Huskies momentum kept rolling into the fourth set, opening up an early 6-3 advantage after a Mikanovich kill. Once again the Sea-Hawks battled back, with a Taylar Johnston kill cutting the lead to 10-8.
Saint Mary's continued to lead throughout the set, despite back-to-back service aces from the Sea-Hawks Lydia Grawer cutting the lead to 21-18. With the score at 22-19, Grace Blaskovits took over service and Saint Mary's scored three straight points off of a Mikanovich kill, Piatukhova and Fader double-block and a Piatukhova kill to win the decisive fourth set 25-19, and win the match three sets to one.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2024
HUSKIES WIN! Alena Piatukhova scores the final point as the Huskies win their sixth straight match, defeating the Sea-Hawks in four sets (28-30, 25-22, 25-12, 25-19). pic.twitter.com/KJUZ0Bs7nF
The Huskies offence was led once again by Emilia Mikanovich, who received her second straight Player of the Match honour, recording a game-high 16 points off 13 kills, two aces, two blocks and adding 16 digs. Sydney Fader chipped in nine kills, one ace and six blocks, while Alena Piatukhova added 10 kills, and four blocks, and Grace Blaskovits delivered a match-high 40 assists along with three service aces and a kill.
The Sea-Hawks were led offensively by first year Olivia DeDecker, recording a team high 13 points on 12 kills, one ace and adding 10 digs. Courtney Hodder added nine kills, four blocks and an ace, Lydia Grawer contributed 10 kills and two aces, and Karen Green chipped in 19 assists to go along with four kills, three aces and a block.
The Huskies six straight win improves their record to 6-2 on the campaign. They'll be back in action on Friday, Nov. 22, visiting crosstown rival Dalhousie Tigers (6-1) at 7 p.m. at the Dalplex.
The Sea-Hawks loss drops their record to 4-4 on the season. Memorial will be back on homecourt in two weeks hosting the UNB REDS (2-5) on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. NST and Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. NST.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
