Huskies win sixth straight, defeating Sea-Hawks in straight-sets

HALIFAX, NS- The Saint Mary's Huskies won their sixth straight match, defeating the Memorial Sea-Hawks in straight sets (25-17, 25-21, 25-15) on Friday night at the Homburg Centre.

It was the Sea-Hawks who got off to a solid start, with a kill and service ace by outside hitter Lydia Grawer (St. Louis, MO) putting them in front 2-0. The Huskies came roaring back, and four straight points off the service of Olivia Bell (Lahave, NS) put them in front 14-7.

The Sea-Hawks were able to cut into the lead again thanks to some strong play by setter Karen Greek (Mount Pearl, NL), cutting the Huskies lead to 17-4. That's when the duo of Alena Piatukhova and Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) took over the set, helping the Huskies score seven straight points, before Olivia Bell finished it off with a kill to give the home team a 25-17 first set win.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Olivia Bell with the kill to finish off the first set, and the Huskies take it 25-17. pic.twitter.com/p7c4g6MzLt

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 10, 2023

In the second set, the Sea-Hawks again got off to a strong start, opening up a 7-2 lead, before an epic minute-long rally was finished off by Huskies setter Taylor Lougheed (Calgary, AB).

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

A fantastic rally finished off by Taylor Lougheed! pic.twitter.com/SWGStLMFYd

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 10, 2023

The Huskies seemed to get momentum from that rally, scoring eight straight points off the service of Mikanovich to open-up a 10-7 lead. Saint Mary's was able to extend the lead to 23-15, but Memorial came back with six straight points, including a pair of aces from libero Shianna Duda (Delburne, AB), to cut the lead to 23-21. A block by Mikanovich finished off the second set, with the Huskies taking it 25-21.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Emilia Mikanovich cleans it up at the net and gives the Huskies the second set win 24-21. Saint Mary's leads 2-0 heading into the third set. pic.twitter.com/40ctQ8VnCv

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 10, 2023

The third set opened up with a pair of aces by Huskies middle Madison Hann (Conquerall Mills, NS) and a monster kill by Mikanovich to give the Huskies an early 3-0 lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

A huge kill by Emilia Mikanovich puts the Huskies up 3-0 in the third set. pic.twitter.com/5WiEJ6nt9h

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 11, 2023

A nine point service streak by Piatukhova pushed the Huskies lead to 16-4. The Huskies showed off some depth in the third set with outside hitters Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS) and Kala Bruhm (Hubley, NS), setter Olivia Kokkinen (Uxbridge, ON) and middles Jessie Buck (Severn, ON) and Paige Deering (Calgary, AB) making an impact off the bench.

It was a Fader kill, followed by a Sea-Hawks error that would finish off the match, with the Huskies taking the third set 25-15.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Huskies finish it off in straight sets (25-17, 25-21, 25-15) for their sixth straight win! Taylor Lougheed named Subway Player of the Game with 18 assists, three kills, three service aces and three digs. pic.twitter.com/cv9hmBBHGk

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 11, 2023

Huskies setter Taylor Lougheed was named Subway Player of the Game, getting everyone involved offensively with a game-high 18 assists, and added three service aces, three kills and three digs.

Olivia Bell chipped in a game-high nine kills and four digs, while Mikanovich led the team in digs with 17, and added four service aces and four kills.

The Sea-Hawks were led by outside hitter Kamryn Sanger (Grand Falls, NL) with six kills, three digs, two assists and one service ace, while setter Karen Greek (Mount Pearl, NL) chipped in 16 assists, two service aces, two kills and one dig.

The Huskies sixth straight win improved their record to 12-4 on the season. The Sea-Hawks loss dropped their record to 0-18. The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics