Tigers end 2024 with a win

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics

HALIFAX, NS – The Dalhousie Tigers defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies in four sets (25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 25-18) in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action on Friday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax. 

The opening set of play saw the Tigers take control early, with a service ace from middle Ella Hornby (Calgary, AB) opening up a quick 4-1 lead. Saint Mary's responded with a block from middle Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus) and a pair of kills from outside hitters Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS) and Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus), followed by an ace from middle Madison Hann (Conquerall Mills, NS), which cut the Tigers lead to 14-9. But the Tigers lead early lead was too much to overcome, and a kill from Tigers outside hitter Melissa Hatfield (Beaverlodge, AB) gave them the 25-18 first set victory.  

The second set saw the Huskies open up an early 7-3 lead off some great service from outside hitter Breanna Golding (Pickering, ON). Dalhousie was able to come back, with a Hatfield kill giving them a 12-11 lead. The back-and-forth play continued late into the set, when a service ace from Huskies middle Anna Liniewski (Burnaby, BC) cut the Tigers lead to 22-21. But Dalhousie closed it out off of service and a kill from Melissa Hatfield, and won the second set 25-21 to take a two-sets-to-none lead. 

The close match-up between crosstown rivals continued into the third set, with a kill from Huskies setter Grace Blaskovits (Kelowna, BC) giving the hosts a 10-8 lead. Later in the set, a pair of Golding aces and a Mikanovich kill pushed the Huskies lead to 15-12. The Tigers were able to tie it up at 19-19, with a pair of kills from outside Talia Vydykhan (Hammonds Plains, NS). But Saint Mary's responded with three straight kills from Golding and Mikanovich, taking the lead 22-19. Golding continued her tremendous play, with a kill and block to close the set, with the Huskies taking it 25-20 to push the match for a fourth set.  

The fourth set saw Saint Mary's jump out to a quick 3-1 lead after a Liniewski kill, but the Tigers battled back, opening up 14-10 lead off a service run by middle Kasandra Trenke (Calgary, AB). Saint Mary's continued fighting, and back-to-back service aces from Grace Blaskovits gave them a 17-16 lead. But the Tigers closed the set strong, with back-to-back kills from Trenke and Hatfield, and a block from Trenke and Hornby as part of a five point run, before a Hatfield kill finished the match with the Tigers taking the fourth set 25-18 and the match, three sets to one. 

Tigers middle Ella Hornby was named Player of the Match, recording 16 points on 13 kills, two aces, two blocks and adding 11 digs. Melissa Hatfield led the Tigers with 17.5 points, 14 kills and three aces, while setter Quinn McAleer (Calgary, AB) dished out a match-high 33 assists.  

The Huskies were led by Breanna Golding's 17.5 points, including 13 kills, three aces and three blocks. Sydney Fader and Emilia Mikanovich each chipped in 11 points, with Mikanovich also lead the team with 16 digs, and Grace Blaskovits served up 31 assists. 

The Tigers win improves their record to a league-best 7-2 on the season, heading into the December break. Dalhousie will resume the 2025 portion of their schedule on Saturday, Jan. 11 as they host the Acadia Axewomen (4-4) at 2 p.m. at the Dalplex. 

The Huskies loss snaps their seven game win streak, dropping their record to 6-3 on the campaign. Saint Mary's will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 10, as they head to Newfoundland to take on the Memorial Sea-Hawks, with first serve scheduled for 6:30 p.m. AST.