Tigers squeeze past Axewomen in last two sets to take 3-0 match win

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The visiting first place Dalhousie Tigers squeezed out two set wins to take a 3-0 match victory over the host Acadia Axewomen.

Amy Appleby's (Fredericton, N.B.) defensive effort with 14 digs along with 4 kills and 2 service aces led the Tigers to 25-13, 25-23 and 26-24 set wins over the Axewomen. Appleby was named the Subway player of the game for her efforts.

The Tigers led for the entire first set, pulling out to an impressive 9-3 lead but the Axewomen worked back to a 12-8 deficit. A 7-1 run by the Tigers pushed the game out of reach with Anna Dunn-Suen (Halifax, N.S.) putting the set out of reach with two consecutive kills at 23-10 and a service ace at 25-13.

The Axewomen regrouped for the second game of the match but trailed 7-4 early in the second set. Four service aces by rookie Lauryn Renzella (Stouffville, Ont.) combined with a Dalhousie attack error gave Acadia a 10-8 lead.

An Acadia attack error gave the Tigers a short-lived 16-15 lead after a Sarah Ross (Toronto, Ont.) kill tied the game at 16.

Neck-to-neck in the home stretch, the Tigers prevailed with two errors to grab the second set 25-23.

Ahead 13-7 in the third and eventual final game, the Axewomen fell short in extending the match to four. Dalhousie tied the set at 20 on a Victoria Haworth (Waverley, N.S.) kill combined with an attack error. But Acadia would retake the lead, pushing out to a 24-20 advantage on kills by Fiona McGuinty (Ottawa, Ont.) and Kaitlyn Franklin (Nanaimo, B.C.) along with two Tiger attack errors.

Two attack errors by Acadia combined with two Tiger service aces and a kill by Dunn-Suen gave Dalhousie a 26-24 third set win and a 3-0 match victory.

Dunn-Suen led the Tigers with nine kills while teammate Courtney Baker (Bridgewater, N.S.) posted a hitting efficiency of 0.308 on five kills. Acadia's Sarah Ross, named the Subway Player of the Game for the Axewomen, posted a match high 11 kills. Hillary Monette (New Minas, N.S.) and Michaela Sabean (Bridgewater, N.S.) shared the load of digs with 17 and 15 respectively.

The Tigers finish the regular season with a 14-3 record and first place in the AUS standings, while Acadia drops to 7-10 and will settle for third place in the standings.

Acadia will host the AUS championships weekend beginning this Friday with quarterfinal play. Second place Memorial and the Tigers will take the quarterfinal byes, while the Axewomen will take on sixth place UNB in the 7:00 pm quarterfinal game this Friday night. Fourth place Saint Mary's will matchup against Moncton for the 4:30 pm quarterfinal game on Friday.

Source: Acadia Athletcs