HALIFAX, NS – The Saint Mary’s Huskies defeated the UNB REDS in straight sets (25-21, 25-17, 25-16) to sweep the weekend series on Sunday afternoon at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.
Fresh off a four set battle on Saturday night, the two teams continued to look evenly matched through the majority of the first set, with several ties throughout. With the Huskies leading 15-14, middle Madison Hann (Conqueral Mills, NS) served an ace, and three straight kills from Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) and Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus) helped the Huskies open up a 20-15 advantage. The REDS battled back with some strong play from outside hitter Lydia Green (Bedford, NS) but a kill from Huskies All-Canadian left side Olivia Bell (Lahave Islands, NS) finished off the set with the home team taking it 25-21.
In the second set, the Huskies took an early 5-1 advantage thanks to some great passing from setter Taylor Lougheed (Calgary, AB), who connected on three straight kills with Bell, Piatukhova and Megan Bruhm (Hubley, NS). REDS outside hitter Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) did her best to keep her team within striking distance with a couple kills and a service ace, but the Huskies led the set from start to finish, and took it 25-17.
The decisive third set saw more of the same from the Huskies – middles Hann and Piatukhova dominated play at the net, while Lougheed delivered great passes to the attacking trio of Mikanovich, Bell and Bruhm. Huskies liberos Syree Tucker (Kitchener, ON) and Morgan Hoskins (Bishop Falls, NL) were also stellar, providing some excellent digs and defending against the REDS attack. Not to be outdone, REDS libero Jenna Adams (Truro, NS) led the match with 24 digs and had some outstanding players of her own. But the Huskies attack proved to be too much for the REDS this weekend, with the Belarusian duo of Mikanovich and Piatukhova carrying Saint Mary’s to a 25-16 third set win.
The Huskies attack was led by Player of the Game Emilia Mikanovich who recorded a game-high 17 kills and 13 digs. Olivia Bell chipped in 13 kills, four service aces, 10 digs and two blocks, while Megan Bruhm contributed nine kills, two service aces, eight assists and block. Setter Taylor Lougheed posted a game-high 42 assists.
Player of the Game honours went to Huskies middle Alena Piatukhova – dominant at the net with 10 kills and two blocks – and libero Syree Tucker. Mikanovich had another big day adding 15 kills, nine digs, three blocks and an assist, while Lougheed led the match with 29 assists, and now leads the AUS in that category.
The REDS were led by Lydia Green’s seven kills and five digs, while Heather Benko chipped in six kills, five digs and three service aces, and middle Meghan Vaags added five kills and two blocks.
The win improves the Huskies record to 7-3 on the campaign. The Huskies will be back on home court next Friday as they host the Acadia Axewomen (8-2) at 7 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS
The REDS loss drops their record to 5-5 on the season. UNB will be back on the road next weekend as they visit the Memorial Sea-Hawks (0-10) for a pair of matches on Friday and Saturday.
Players of the Game:
SMU – #8 Alena Piatukhova and #5 Syree Tucker
UNB – #17 Meghan Vaags
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics