by Cody Baugh

It was another successful year for the women’s volleyball team who captured their fourth-straight AUS title and placed sixth at the CIS championship. The Tigers posted a 14-3 record in the AUS regular season and took home the sixth annual Russell Investment Tigers Invitational tournament in the pre-season.

Dalhousie started the AUS regular season with three straight wins. The Tigers proved their resilience closing out two five-set matches against the Acadia Axewomen during the span.

The Tigers hosted the second AUS-RSEQ Interlock event of the season, playing five matches in three days. Dalhousie went 3-2 over the weekend with wins over Laval, Montreal and UQAM and losses to McGill and Sherbrooke.

Dalhousie went on a tear following the AUS-RSEQ Interlock with three straight wins, outscoring opponents 9-1 during the win streak. Saint Mary’s put an end to the streak, downing the Tigers 3-2 in a five-set match at the end of January.

To close out the AUS regular season the Tigers put up four straight wins in 10 days earning them a first round bye in the AUS championship, hosted by Acadia.

Dalhousie cruised past the Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-0 in the semifinal and took down the Memorial Sea-Hawks in the championship game, 3-1. It is the first time since 1970 that any AUS team won four conference championships in a row. Anna-Dunn Suen, who led the Tigers attack all season long, was named the AUS championship MVP and a championship all-star. Setter Abby Czenze was also named to the championship all-star team.

As the sixth seed at the CIS championship, the Tigers faced third-seeded UBC Okanagan in their quarter-final match up. Dalhousie was in tough, but battled hard falling 3-0 in the match. The Tigers then went on to face McGill in the consolation semifinal, defeating the Martlets 3-2. Dalhousie found themselves down 7-2 in the fifth set, but fought back to take match. In the consolation final the next day, the Tigers were downed 3-0 by Montreal, putting an end to their season.

“The girls showed tremendous leadership on and off the court,” says head coach Rick Scott. “We worked hard all season and really came together as a team to make great improvements.”

There was no shortage of individual achievement this season on the women’s volleyball team. Abby Czenze, Anna Dunn-Suen and Jessica Josenhans were all named AUS first team all-stars, while Marisa Mota and Mieke DuMont received second team honours.

Courtney Baker had a break out year for the Tigers recording 124 kills on the season, third best on the team. She was named to both the AUS and CIS all-rookie teams.

With only fifth-year middle blocker Jessica Josenhans graduating this year, the Tigers will be a balanced blend of youth and experience next season.