Tigers fall to Axewomen, 3-1

Photo by Treavor MacMillan
Photo by Treavor MacMillan

By Chelsea Norris, Dalhousie Tigers

The Acadia Axewomen beat the Dalhousie Tigers 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21) in AUS women's volleyball action Sunday evening.

Acadia got out to a hot start in the first set with Taylor Collombin getting five kills before the technical timeout. The Tigers started to find their footing after the break with veterans Julie Moore (Halifax, NS), Sarah Dawe (Mount Peral, NL) and Victoria Turcot (Halifax, NS) leading the way. Acadia's Emilie Albert put the team on her back late in the set getting the four of the Axewomen's last five points including an ace. Acadia won the set 25-19.

The Axewomen continued where they left off in the second set with Collombin again finding the floor early in the set. The younger Tigers started to step up leading into the technical timeout, with Moore being supported by Ella Hornby (Calgary, AB) and Grace Calnan (Dartmouth, NS) with hard kills and big blocks respectively. It was not enough, however as the Axewomen sustained their lead, winning the set 25-22.

The third set was a much tighter affair with Moore and Dawe for the Tigers leading the team with big kills. Libero Alessandra Nadalini (Bedford, NS) came up big in the back court, keeping the ball in play several times on the Tigers side. She would end the game with 15 digs. The Tigers were able to claw one back winning the set 25-21.

But that is as far as the Tigers would get as another strong set from Acadia's Collombin would see the Axewomen with the fourth set 25-21 and end the game. She would end the game with 17 kills.

Julie Moore was named the player of the game for the Tigers after a 21 kill, 16 dig performance. The Subway Player of the Game was Acadia's Wesley-Ann Bailey.

The Axewomen head into the holiday break in second place, with the Tigers only 2 points behind them in third. The teams return to the court in 2022, with both teams starting the second half of their seasons on January 14. Dalhousie will host Memorial, while Acadia host first place Saint Mary's.