Tigers capture 10th AUS title in a row

By Ethan Hunt, Dalhousie Athletics

The Dalhousie Tigers beat the Acadia Axewomen 3-2 (25-23, 25-11, 16-25, 18-25, 15-12) to capture their 10^th AUS title in a row, on Saturday at Dalplex.

The AUS championship series was tied 1-1 heading into the deciding game on Saturday night. The two teams had continued the trend from the regular season, with both of the first two games in the series going to five sets.

The fieldhouse in Dalplex was once again packed to the rafters and the crowd was loud from the first serve. The Tigers got out to an early start in the first set and were able to string together several multi-point runs. Acadia faced a balance Tigers attack with kills coming from Talia Vydykhan (Hammonds Plains, NS), Grace Calnan (Dartmouth, NS) and Ella Hornby (Calgary, AB). The Tigers took the first set 25-23.

Dalhousie looked to be rolling in the second set, getting out to a significant lead early and never really looking back. Taylor Witty (Dartmouth, NS) was a bright spot for the Axewomen in the second set, with setter Charlotte Dean (Mississauga, ON) running a lot of the play through Witty. Three big kills in a row from Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) wrapped up the set and gave the Tiger the 25-11 and it looked to many like this might be an early night.

Something clicked for the Axewomen in the third set, and they flipped the script with two straight set wins, the third set was 25-16 and 25-18 highlighted by phenomenal digs by libero Rebecca Dorsey (Toronto, ONT), who played great throughout the three game series.

Knowing that it was all coming down to the fifth set, fans of both the Tigers and the Axewomen increased their volume, trying to lift their teams to victory. The fifth set had all the theatrics that this three game series has displayed, amazing volleyball, emotions flaring, and the booming sound of hitting trash cans. The set was back and forth throughout with a fitting final kill by Glen-Carter who fell to her knees because of being overcome with emotion.

Dorsey was named the Subway Player of the Game for her excellent defence to keep the game close late. Glen-Carter took home Subway Player of the Game for the Tigers, and AUS Championship MVP, completing a season full of accolades.

The Tigers will move on to the U SPORTS National Championship in Vancouver March 17-19, hosted by the University of British Columbia.