(HALIFAX, N.S.) The Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the UNB REDS in a five set thriller (23-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-11) to win the semifinal series of the 2025 Bell AUS Women's Volleyball Championship on Monday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.
The Huskies came out strong in the early moments, with an ace from setter Grace Blaskovits (Kelowna, BC) opening up 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 up at 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, with several kills from Talia Nixon, but the Huskies remained in control, with a Sydney Fader service ace growing the lead to 20-14. With the Huskies ahead 24-18, middle Madison Hann (Conqueral Mills, NS) served up set point, with Saint Mary's taking the second set 25-18 to tie the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw the REDS get off to a strong start, opening up a 6-1 lead off a service run from Talia Nixon. Now it was the Huskies turn to battle back, with a pair of kills from Emilia Mikanovich and a big block from middle Anna Liniewski (Burnaby, BC) cutting 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 off of a block and a kill to push their lead to 23-17, but Saint Mary's responded again, scoring four straight points to cut it to 23-20, but UNB stopped the run to win the set 25-20 and take a two sets to one advantage.
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 fifth set was a thriller, with both teams exchanging points early, including a service ace from Breanna Golding, followed by a monster kill from Alena Piatukhova to give the Huskies a 4-2 advantage. The REDS responded with four straight points off a Heather Benko service run, before the Huskies scored three straight, with a Liniewski block retaking the lead at 7-6.
Saint Mary's kept the foot on the gas, with another Liniewski kill extending their lead to 9-6, forcing a REDS timeout. The REDS responded with a kill and service ace from Danielle Kryzwonos, after which both teams exchanged service errors, and a Kiana Huggins kill tied the set at 10-10. But the Huskies finished strong, with back-to-back kills from Breanna Golding giving the hosts a 12-11 advantage. That's when Alena Piatukhova took over, scoring a massive block followed by two kills to give the Huskies the 15-11 win and clinch their ticket to the AUS Championship Final, as well as a spot at U SPORTS Nationals.
Huskies middle Alena Piatukhova was named Player of the Match, scoring four of her 16.5 points in the final set, including the last three of the game, as she recorded 13 kills, five blocks and one assist. Breanna Golding led the Huskies with 19 points on 17 kills and two aces and added 19 digs and three assists, Sydney Fader chipped in 18 points on 14 kills, a match-high three aces, and five digs and Grace Blaskovits dished out a match-high 44 assists.
The REDS were led by middle Danielle Krzyywonos who scored 14.5 points on nine kills, three aces and three blocks. Heather Benko chipped in 12.5 points on 10 kills and two blocks, Kiana Huggins added 12 points on 10 kills and Talia Nixon dished out 33 assists.
With the win, the Huskies advance to the AUS Finals, where they will host the #4 seed Memorial Sea-Hawks, with schedule information to be confirmed. The Huskies also qualify for the U SPORTS National Championship, and will be making their second straight appearance at Nationals which will be held March 14-16 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics