Written by Duncan Forbes

It was quite the year for the Tigers. They began the pre-season with a 5-3 record, including a 4-0 mark against AUS competition. After winning their season opener against Acadia, they hosted the Saint Mary’s Huskies in their home opener. After winning the first two sets, the Huskies claimed the next three, winning 3-2.

Rick Scott’s squad responded by rattling off three straight wins without dropping a set. They looked to extend the streak at the AUS-RSEQ Interlock in Sherbrooke. The Tigers dropped their first three matches and finished 1-3 at the event, completing the first half of the season at 5-4.

In December, the Tigers headed to British Columbia to play UBC and Trinity Western. The experience would serve them well as they prepared for the second half.

The Tigers were a perfect 7-0 in January and February, dropping just one set during that stretch. With a 12-4 record, they earned the first seed going into the AUS playoffs on their home court.

Matched up with the University of Moncton in the semifinal, they made quick work of the fourth-seeded Aigles Bleues, winning 3-0. The next day, the Tigers faced off against the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the AUS final, looking to win their first set of back-to-back titles since 1993. They downed the Huskies 3-0, claiming their second consecutive AUS title. Desiree Nouwen was named the championship MVP and both she and Tara Gowan were named to the all-star team.

Entering the CIS championship in Regina, SK, as the sixth-seed, the Tigers shocked the third-seeded Trinity Western Spartans 3-1 in the first round of the championship, led by Nouwen’s 15 kills. The win earned the Tigers a spot in the semifinal against No. 2 Manitoba. This would mark the first time an AUS team had made it to a CIS semifinal since 1984, when the Tigers claimed a silver medal. The Tigers came close, but could not come out on top, losing 3-0.

Despite the loss, they were still in contention for a CIS medal. They faced off against the fourth-seeded Laval, and came out firing, winning the first set 25-23. The Rouge et Or answered right back, and took the next three sets to claim the bronze. Nouwen was named to the CIS championship all-star team, while Katherine Ryan was awarded the prestigious R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award.

Maggie Li was named the AUS MVP as well as a CIS first team all-star, while first year phenom Desiree Nouwen was named an AUS first team all-star. Anna Dunn was named to the AUS all-rookie team, and Tara Gowan was named an AUS second team all-star.

Head coach Rick Scott would like to send a huge thank you and goodbye to four graduating athletes Marlee Powers, Raeesa Lalani, Petra Rafuse and Katherine Ryan.

“They have set a championship culture of outstanding work ethic, commitment, toughness and teamwork that has made our team successful and champions both on and off the court,” says Scott. “We are a very close knit group, a real team, with tremendous leadership and it was a pleasure to work with them. We have many great young players and the future looks very bright.”