Huskies defeat Aigles Bleues in five sets for third straight win

MONCTON, NB - Saint Mary's left side Emilia Mikanovich recorded a match-high 20 kills as the Huskies defeated the Moncton Aigles Bleues in a five set thriller (25-16, 20-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-10) in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action on Sunday afternoon at CEPS Louis-J.-Robichaud gymnasium in Moncton, NB.

First set: 25-16 Huskies
After Friday's five set thriller in Halifax, the two teams continued to look evenly matched, trading early points to a score of 7-7. The Huskies went on a nine point run powered by the serve of Emilia Mikanovich, opening up a 16-7 lead. The Aigles Bleues cut it to 19-12, but the Huskies closed with a kill from first year Esther Wildeboer, taking the first set 25-16.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Esther Wildeboer with the kill as the Huskies take the first set 25-16! pic.twitter.com/Iu4cra6CRf

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 26, 2025

Second set: 25-20 Aigles Bleues
The Huskies took an early 5-1 lead, including two kills and a block from Alena Piatukhova. But Moncton came back, with a kill from Sierra Sarty cutting the Huskies lead to 7-6. A Casiddy Martin service run gave the Aigles Bleues their first lead of the set at 14-13. The two teams continued to exchange points, and were tied at 17-17, before Moncton took control, and back-to-back kills from Kyana Sivret and Sierra Sarty gave the Aigles Bleues the 25-20 second set win, tying the match at 1-1.

Third set: 25-19 Aigles Bleues
An early service run from Kyana Sivret opened up a 8-4 lead for the home team. Saint Mary's cut into the lead later, with an Alena Piatukhova ace cutting the score to 19-16. With Moncton leading 22-19, Cassidy Martin went on a service run including an ace, and a Kyana Sivret kill gave the Aigles Bleues a 25-19 third set win.

Fourth set: 25-17 Huskies
After dropping back-to-back sets, the Huskies came out motivated to start the fourth, opening up a quick 6-1 lead. The Huskies led the entire set and a kill by Emilia Mikanovich gave them a 25-17 win, forcing a decisive fifth set. 

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Back-to-back kills from Emilia Mikanovich and Brea De Souza, followed by a Mikanovich ace as the Huskies take the fourth set 25-17 and force a decisive fifth set! pic.twitter.com/Juniu4cLak

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 26, 2025

Fifth set: 15-10 Huskies
For the second straight match, the Huskies and Aigles Bleues required a full five sets to decide the winner. An Emilia Mikanovich ace gave the Huskies a 8-4 lead, but Moncton scored three straight points off the service of Sophie Hedou to cut it to 8-7. But the Huskies closed it out effectively, and once again it was Mikanovich who delivered a match point kill, giving the Huskies a five set victory.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Huskies win!! Mikanovich with the match point kill as the Huskies win their third straight match and improve to 11-4 on the season! pic.twitter.com/azp5Ukug41

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 26, 2025

The Huskies were led by left side Emilia Mikanovich who recorded a match-high 24 points on 20 kills, 20 digs, three aces and one block. Brea de Souza chipped in 13 kills and Grace Blaskovits dished out 37 assists.

The Aigles Bleues were led by Evette Petherick with 16 kills and two aces, while Kyana Sivret (11 kills) and Sierra Sarty (10 kills).

The Huskies third straight win improves their record to 11-4 on the season. The Huskies will be back on home court next weekend, hosting the UNB REDS (6-9) for a pair of matches on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. GET TICKETS

The Aigles Bleues drop to 1-14 with the loss. Moncton will travel to Halifax next weekend to visit the Dalhousie Tigers (12-3) for a pair of matches on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics