Tigers defeat Huskies in straight sets
The Tigers defeated the Huskies in straight sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-17), on Friday
The Dalhousie Tigers defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies in straight sets, 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-17), on Friday at Dalplex.
The first set of the game between Dalhousie and the Huskies featured several notable scoring streaks. Dalhousie initially took a 2-0 lead, with points from Quinn McAleer and Ella Hornby. However, the Huskies responded with a five-point streak, capitalizing on service aces by Grace Blaskovits and attack errors from Dalhousie. Dalhousie then mounted a comeback, tying the game at 8-8, fueled by kills from Ella Hornby and errors by the Huskies. In the closing moments, Dalhousie maintained a narrow lead, with critical points from Talia Vydykhan, to win the first set 25-22.
In the second set, Dalhousie secured a win against the Huskies with a score of 25-21. Dalhousie gained momentum early with Quinn McAleer serving two consecutive aces and contributing to a 6-2 lead. The Huskies called a timeout after this streak, but Dalhousie continued to build their lead, with Talia Vydykhan and Kasandra Trenke contributing key kills. The Huskies managed to narrow the gap towards the end with a series of points from Sydney Fader, but a service error sealed the set in favor of Dalhousie.
In the third set, Dalhousie secured a 25-17 victory. The set began with a kill by Melissa Hatfield, but the Huskies quickly responded with points from Breanna Golding and a service ace by Madison Hann. Dalhousie then gained momentum with Kasandra Trenke serving two consecutive aces, contributing to a 5-3 lead. A significant turning point occurred as Dalhousie went on a six-point streak starting at 7-7, with multiple kills by Melissa Hatfield and Talia Vydykhan, reaching 13-7 before the Huskies called a timeout. Despite efforts from the Huskies, including a kill by Taylor Lougheed and a service ace by Madison Hann, Dalhousie maintained their lead, concluding the set with a block by Kasandra Trenke on Breanna Golding's attack.
The Dalhousie team featured several standout performers. Grace Calnan led with a high attack percentage of .600, contributing 7 kills with only 1 error in 10 attempts. She also dominated defensively, with 4 solo blocks, totaling 4.0 blocks. Talia Vydykhan was another key player, registering 10 kills and totaling 12 points, the highest on the team. Quinn McAleer showed exceptional setting skills, leading the team with 27 assists and achieving a perfect attack percentage of 1.000. Kasandra Trenke contributed significantly in multiple areas, with 6 kills, 2 service aces, and a total of 9.5 points. Ella Hornby also stood out with 7 kills, 9 digs, and 2.0 total blocks. These players were instrumental in their team's performance, showcasing strong skills across various aspects of the game.
The Huskies and Tigers battle again on Saturday in a re-scheduled match from November.