SMU up 1-0 in AUS playoff series

(HALIFAX, NS) – Teammates Jamie Rourke and Olivia Bell each had a team-high 17 points to lead the Saint Mary's volleyball team (1-0) to a 3-1 win over Acadia University Axewomen (0-1) Thursday evening at Homburg Centre in Atlantic University Sport playoff action.

Acadia's outside hitter Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) paced all players in points (19.5) and kills (16) and added a double-double with 14 digs.

The Huskies won the first set 25-18 after both teams were tied 7-7 early on. A 10-3 run saw SMU's offence click midway thru and led 17-10. Both teams would trade points, 8-8, as SMU closed out the set with the win.

Acadia jumped out to a fast 6-0 lead to open the second set. Saint Mary's cut the Axewomen lead in half with a 3-0 run, 6-3. At the midway point, Acadia led 15-10 before a 5-0 SMU run tied the set 15-15. A 3-0 Acadia run saw the Axewomen regain an 18-15 lead. Saint Mary's used a 10-4 run in last moments of the set for the 25-22 win.

The Axewomen led 4-1, 9-2 and 15-10 in the third set. Acadia led by nine after a 4-0 run extended their lead to 19-10. The Huskies used a 10-1 run to tie the set 20-20. Acadia closed the third set out on a 4-0 run and won their first set, 26-24.

Both teams traded points in the fourth set and were even at 9-9. Glen-Carter's two kills pushed Acadia ahead 11-9. A 6-0 run by SMU surged the Huskies ahead 15-11. A service error ended the run at 15-12.

Another 4-0 run put SMU ahead 19-12. Acadia outscored SMU 8-6 down the stretch but ran out of time as the Huskies won the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.

Saint Mary's hit .175 in the match, including three sets above .200 while Acadia hit .090. SMU held a 47-41 advantage in kills and Acadia out blocked SMU 3-2.

Peyton DeWolfe (Bridgewater, NS) tallied 11 kills and 15 digs for Acadia while Becky Dorsey (Toronto, ON) chipped in a team-high 28 digs. Setter Zoe Lis (Ottawa, ON) paced Acadia with 21 assists.

Bell (La Have, NS) had 14 kills while Rourke (Mission, BC) added 13 for SMU and Anna Watt (Calgary, AB) had 10. Rourke and Watt had double-doubles with 15 and 11 digs respectively.

Libero Renee Cleveland (Saint-Martin, NS) paced SMU with 20 digs and setter Emilla Conlon (Dartmouth, NS) had 39 assists.

Game 2 is February 21 at 7 pm at the Homburg Centre.

Dominic Nolasco, SMU
Photo Nick Pearce