TIgers fall to Huskies, 3-1

The Saint Mary's Huskeis defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 3-1 (27-29, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23) on Friday.

In the first set of the game, Dalhousie and Saint Mary's exchanged early points, with significant contributions from Sydney Fader and Breanna Golding for Saint Mary's and Kasandra Trenke and Ella Hornby for Dalhousie. The Tigers took control midway through the set with a series of successful plays, including a streak of four consecutive points from 14-5, highlighted by Ella Hornby's service ace. The Huskies mounted a comeback, tying the score at 22-22 with key plays from Emilia Mikanovich and Breanna Golding. However, Dalhousie regained momentum, closing out the set with a 29-27 victory, aided by strong performances from Annik Boldon and a crucial service ace by Kasandra Trenke.

In the second set, Saint Mary's built a lead with a string of five consecutive points, beginning at a score of 2-2 and extending to 7-2, thanks to a series of errors from Dalhousie, including two attack errors and a bad set. Dalhousie managed to close the gap slightly to 11-13, with notable contributions from Kasandra Trenke and Grace Calnan. However, the Huskies responded strongly, again pulling ahead with a series of successful kills, including key plays by Emilia Mikanovich and Sydney Fader, extending their lead to 20-12. Despite a late effort from Dalhousie, with Annik Boldon and Kirsty Longino contributing points, Saint Mary's maintained control and secured the set with a final score of 25-16.

In the third set, Dalhousie and Saint Mary's exchanged early points, with Dalhousie initially leading 2-1 after a kill by Grace Calnan at play number 102. The Huskies responded with a run, taking a 4-2 lead following a service ace by Anna Liniewski at play number 104 and a kill by Emilia Mikanovich. Dalhousie then regained momentum, scoring four consecutive points, including a service ace by Quinn McAleer, to lead 7-5. Saint Mary's countered with a series of successful plays, highlighted by kills from Sydney Fader and Emilia Mikanovich, to eventually secure the set victory at 25-21, with Mikanovich's kill sealing the set at play number 144.

In the fourth set, Dalhousie started strong with an early point off an attack error by Breanna Golding, but Saint Mary's quickly responded, maintaining a close contest. Dalhousie gained a brief lead with a score of 11-9, highlighted by a service ace from Grace Calnan. The Huskies then rallied, with Emilia Mikanovich and Breanna Golding contributing key kills to bring the score to 20-18 in favor of Saint Mary's. Ultimately, Saint Mary's secured the set with a 25-23 victory, capped by a decisive service ace from Breanna Golding.

Kasandra Trenke has been a standout player for Dalhousie, leading with 17.5 points and contributing significantly in serving with four service aces and in blocking with six total blocks. Quinn McAleer has been pivotal in setting, with a notable 31 assists, showcasing her playmaking abilities. Ella Hornby also played a key role with 12.5 points, recording 10 kills and three block assists. Additionally, Melissa Hatfield contributed 10 points, providing strength in both attacking with nine kills and serving with one ace. These players have been instrumental in their respective categories, highlighting their impact on the team's performance.

The Tigers return to the court on February 14 when they host the Memorial Sea-Hawks at Dalplex.