HALIFAX, NS – The Saint Mary’s Huskies defeated the UNB REDS three sets to one (27-29, 26-24, 25-17, 25-18) in a thrilling Atlantic University Sport women’s volleyball match on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.
The Huskies got off to a strong start, with three straight service aces from All-Canadian left side Olivia Bell (Lahave Islands, NS) giving the home team a 6-0 lead, forcing the REDS to call time-out. But UNB came storming back, thanks in part to some great play from outside hitters Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) and Lydia Green (Bedford, NS), who combined for six kills, with Benko adding a pair of service aces.
A kill from middle Anna Linewski (Burnaby, BC) gave the Huskies a 22-18 lead, but the REDS went on a run to tie the match at 23-23. The Huskies took several single point leads, but the REDS were able to answer every time, and three straight points off service from setter Catherine Burns (Fredericton, NB), capped off by a Benko kill, gave the REDS the 29-27 first set victory.
The Huskies came out in the second set determined, taking an early 3-0 lead, but the REDS were able to erase it once again, tying the match at 3-3. The two teams remained close for the remainder of the set, and after a Heather Benko kill tied the set at 24-24, back-to-back kills from Bell and Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) gave the Huskies the 26-24 second set victory, tying the match at one-set apiece.
The third set was more of the same – the two teams remained extremely close on the scoreboard, with neither team making taking a lead of more than two points. The REDS led 17-16, when a kill by Mikanovich tied it up at 17-17. That was the start of an eight point Huskies run, with Mikanovich finishing it off with a kill to take the set, 25-17, and take a two-to-one set lead.
The fourth set once again started tight, with a kill from REDS outside hitter Talia Nixon (Fredericton, NB) tying the set at 12-12. But the Huskies went on a four point run behind Bell’s service, and a Bell kill extended the lead to 18-13. The REDS were able to cut into the lead, but a kill from Olivia Bell finished off the match 25-18, giving the Huskies the four set victory.
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.
The REDS were led by outside hitters Lydia Green with nine kills, seven digs and four blocks, and Heather Benko with eight kills, seven digs, two service aces and a block. Catherine Burns chipped in a team-high 28 assists, and added three kills and two service aces.
The win improves the Huskies record to 6-3 on the campaign, while the REDS record drops to 5-4. The two teams will be back in action on Sunday, as they meet again at 2 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS
Players of the Game:
SMU – #17 Emilia Mikanovich
UNB – #9 Lydia Green
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics