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Huskies finish regular season with four set win over Axewomen
Posted: Feb 15, 2025

Huskies finish regular season with four set win over Axewomen

Tickets Photos Photos Results Box Score
Game Leaders
Acadia
K: Jenna Lake - 10
B: Alexia Lemay-Evans - 6
D: 2 Players (#5, #12) - 8
SA: Katie MacLean - 4
Saint Mary's
K: Emilia Mikanovich - 17
B: 4 Players (#4, #8, #17, #18) - 1
D: Breanna Golding - 10
SA: Grace Blaskovits - 4
Team Stats
Full stats

HALIFAX, NS – The Saint Mary's Huskies finished off the regular season with a four set win over the Acadia Axewomen (25-14, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17) in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre.

With the win, the Huskies finish the regular season with a 14-6 record, good for second place in the AUS standings. They'll face the #3 seed UNB REDS (10-10) in the AUS semifinal, with schedule to be confirmed.

It was senior night for the Huskies volleyball team, as they honoured graduating seniors Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS), Morgan Hoskins (Bishop's Falls, NL), Madison Hann (Conquerall Mills, NS), Anna Liniewski (Burnaby, BC), Sarah MacDonald (Creignish, NS) and Lillian Gibson (Dartmouth, NS) with a pre-game ceremony.

First set: 25-14 Huskies

The Huskies came out in the first set motivated after dropping a straight set loss to the Axewomen on Friday night in Wolfville. Huskies setter Grace Blaksovits (Kelowna, BC) opened the match with a service ace, and the Huskies quickly built a 4-1 advantage after kills from Brea De Souza (Oakville, ON) and Breanna Golding (Pickering, ON).

The Axewomen battled back off of service runs from Mia Lemay-Evans (Azilda, ON) and Leah Weatherhead (Windsor Junction, NS), tying it at 10-10. But another Blaskovits service run, including several kills from right side Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS) opened up a 18-10 advantage. Fader continued her dominant play, finishing the set with back-to-back kills as the Huskies took it 25-14.

Second set: 25-19 Huskies

The Huskies momentum continued into the second set, as they opened up a quick 4-0 lead off of service from Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus). But Acadia came back with back-to-back service aces from setter Katie MacLean (Humboldt, SK) to tie it at 6-6. The two teams were evenly matched throughout the second set, with neither team leading by more than two points, until at 16-16, Huskies left side Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) scored an ace, sandwiched between kills from Breanna Golding and Anna Liniewski (Burnaby, BC), opening up a 20-16 advantage.

A kill from Piatukhova brought the Huskies to set point, setting up Sydney Fader for her second straight set finishing kill, giving Saint Mary's a 25-19 second set win.

Third set: 25-18 Axewomen

The tight match-up continued into the pivotal third set, with the two teams remaining close until midway through the set. After a Grace Blaskovits kill gave the Huskies a 12-11 advantage, the Axewomen went on a run, including two aces by Katie MacLean, opening up a 15-12 lead. Saint Mary's battled back with a Breanna Golding kill cutting the Acadia advantage to 22-16, but the Axewomen closed strong, with kills from outside hitters Jenna Lake (Conception Bay South, NL) and Alexia Lemay-Evans (Azilda, ON) giving the visitors the 25-18 third set win, and forcing a fourth set.

Fourth set: 25-17 Huskies

With the two teams tied at 12-12, Breanna Golding went on a service run, including an ace to give the Huskies a 15-12 advantage. The Huskies got a huge boost off the bench when senior left side Lillian Gibson (Dartmouth, NS) came off the bench and went on a four point service run to extend the lead to 18-13.

Emilia Mikanovich performed well with four kills in the fourth set, and with the Huskies ahead 23-17, Grace Blaskovits took over service and not only finished the match, but made history as she delivered her 38th service ace of the season, breaking the Saint Mary's single-season record, putting the Huskies ahead 24-17. Blaskovits then finished off the match with a serve, as the Huskies took the four set win (25-14, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17).

Huskies left side Emilia Mikanovich was named Player of the Match, leading all players with 21 points and 17 kills, and adding seven digs, three service aces, two assists and a block. Grace Blaskovits served up a match-high 39 assists and four service aces, while Sydney Fader chipped in 16 points on 14 kills, three assists and two aces.

The Axewomen were led in defeat by Alexia Lemay-Evans, who scored 14 points on eight kills and six blocks. Jenna Lake chipped in 11 points on 10 kills, and Katie MacLean dished out 26 assists and added a team-high four service aces.

With the win, the Huskies finish the regular season with a 14-6 record, good for second place in the AUS standings. They'll host the #3 seed UNB REDS (10-10) in the AUS semifinal, with schedule to be confirmed.

The Axewomen finish the season with a 9-11 record and are eliminated from playoff contention.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics