Huskies Eliminate REDS

(HALIFAX, NS) The Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the UNB REDS in a five-set thriller Monday night, in the deciding game of their best of three Atlantic University Sport semi-final. Saint Mary's won 23-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-11.

The Huskies came out strong in the early moments, with an ace from setter Grace Blaskovits (Kelowna, BC) opening a 13-7 lead. But the REDS battled back, scoring six straight points, before a kill from Talia Nixon (Fredericton, NB) tied the set at 14-14. Neither team led by more than two points for the remainder of the set. Huskies right side Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS) was clutch late, scoring a pair of kills to tie it 23-23, but REDS outside hitter Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) scored a kill before finishing the set with a block to give UNB the 25-23 first set win.

The second set saw the Huskies get off to a strong start again, with a kill from Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) giving the home team a 7-2 lead. The REDS cut into the lead, but the Huskies remained in control. With the Huskies ahead 24-18, Madison Hann (Conqueral Mills, NS) served set point, with Saint Mary's taking the second set 25-18.

The third set saw the REDS open a 6-1 lead off a Nixon service run. The Huskies cut the lead to 8-6. Once again, the remainder of the set was tight, as the REDS mostly maintained a small lead, until a service ace from middle Danielle Krzywonos (Valley, NS) pushed the advantage to 19-15. Late in the set, REDS middle Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB) scored consecutive points on a block and a kill to push the lead to 23-17, but Saint Mary's responded again, scoring four straight points, but UNB stopped the run to win the set 25-20.

The fourth set was tense, as neither team was able to get much offensive momentum going early. Back-to-back kills from Huskies outside hitters Breanna Golding (Pickering, ON) and Emilia Mikanovich, followed by an Anna Liniewski blocked pushed the Saint Mary's lead to 16-12. Strong play from Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus) and Breanna Golding helped extend the Huskies lead to 22-18, but the REDS scored three straight points, including a pair of kills from outside hitter Kiana Huggins (London, ON) to cut the deficit to a single point. But the Huskies finished strong, with a kill from Alena Piatukhova followed by a UNB service error giving the Huskies the 25-21 fourth set win, and forcing a decisive fifth set.

The teams exchanged points early in the fifth before SMU went up 4-2. The REDS responded with four straight points, before the Huskies scored three straight to lead 7-6. Saint Mary's then went up 9-6, forcing a REDS timeout. Tied 10-10, the Huskies got back-to-back kills to lead 12-11. Saint Mary's added three more for the 3-2 win and a spot in the AUS final and a berth in the U SPORTS championship tournament.

Breanna Golding (Pickering, ON) led the Huskies with 17 kills, two aces, 19 digs, and three assists.

The REDS were led by Krzywonos, who scored 14.5 points on nine kills, three aces and three blocks. Benko chipped in 12.5 points on 10 kills and two blocks. Kiana Huggins (London, ON) added 12 points on 10 kills and Nixon had 33 assists. 

The Huskies will face the Memorial Sea-Hawks in the AUS championship series. The schedule for that series has yet to be decided.

Recap by Allan April / SMU Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / for SMU Athletics