(Halifax, N.S.)— The Saint Mary's Huskies volleyball team defeated the Acadia University Axewomen in three straight sets on Sunday afternoon, 25-19, 25-15, 25-17.
Kristina Alder's (Brampton, Ont.) 10 kills paced all hitters on the afternoon and added 16 total attacks in SMU's win.
The Huskies improve to 9-6 and their 18 conference points clinches a playoff spot.
Acadia drops to 3-14 and have six conference points.
Saint Mary's jumped out to quick leads of 5-2 and 10-4 in the first set before both teams traded three points each for a 13-7 Saint Mary's lead.
Acadia battled back and trimmed SMU's lead to three, 22-19 when the Huskies closed out their first set win with three straight points.
The second set saw the Huskies up 4-0 early before Acadia took four out of the next five points and trailed 5-4.
Two more four point runs sandwiched between a two-run spurt for Acadia saw SMU up 13-6.
Both teams traded points until Saint Mary's used a three-point run to take a 20-11 lead.
Acadia used their own three-point run to trim their deficit to six, 20-14.
After single points to each team, SMU's final four-point run had the Huskies take the set 25-15.
The third set saw Acadia take a 3-2 lead early in the set when SMU took the lead at 5-3 and led 12-6.
Neither team had more than a three-point run in the late stages of the set.
The Huskies won the set 25-17 and the match 25-19, 25-15, 25-17.
Outside hitter Lauryn Renzella (Stouffville, Ont.) finished with eight kills and 23 total attacks for Acadia in the loss while Micaela Sabean (Bridgewater, N.S.) added five kills and 10 digs.
Leading the Huskies on the afternoon win were Erica Dowling (Lower Sackville, N.S.) with eight kills and 22 total attacks, Maddie Clarke (Ottawa, Ont.) with seven kills and Erin Smith (Moncton, N.B.) added five.
SMU had more kills (34-23) and digs (39-29) on the afternoon.
Up next for Acadia is the 0-15 UNB Varsity Reds Saturday, February 4th at 7 p.m. in Wolfville.
Saint Mary's hits the road February 4th at 2 p.m. when the Huskies travel to 7-6 Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus and host UNB Sunday, February 5th at 2 p.m.
Source: Dominic Nolasco, Saint Mary's Athletics Communications
Photo Nick Pearce