HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary’s right side Esther Wildeboer and left side Emilia Mikanovich combined for 37 kills, leading the Huskies to a thrilling come-from-behind five set victory over the Moncton Aigles Bleues (23-25, 24-16, 25-23, 25-18, 15-12) in Atlantic University Sport women’s volleyball action on Friday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax, NS.
First set: 25-23 Aigles Bleues
The two teams exchanged points early, before back-to-back kills from Emilia Mikanovich gave the Huskies an 11-7 lead and forced a Moncton timeout. The Aigles Bleues responded, with back-to-back kills from Anne Paquette cutting the Huskies lead to 18-17, before a couple plays by middle Myriam Gauthier gave the Aigles Bleues their first lead, 19-18. With the two teams tied at 23-23, Emma Burns delivered back-to-back service aces to give Moncton a 25-23 first set win.
Emma Burns (two kills, two aces) and Anne Paquette (four kills) paced the Aigles Bleues with four points each in the first set, while the Huskies were led by Emilia Mikanovich‘s seven kills and a block.
Second set: 26-24 Aigles Bleues
Moncton opened up a 7-4 lead off of an ace from Tori Casey, before the Huskies came back with kills from Emilia Mikanovich and Esther Wildeboer tying it up at 9-9. That’s when Jordin Parsons went on a three-point service run, with an ace putting the Huskies ahead 12-9. The two teams exchanged points before an Esther Wildeboer ace gave the Huskies a 19-18 advantage, but a kill and ace from Anne Paquette restored the Moncton lead. But Mikanovich took over, with two kills and an ace helping put SMU back ahead 23-22. But Moncton responded with a trio of kills from Tori Casey and Anne Paquette to take a 25-24 advantage, before a serve from Mia Ladd won the set, 26-24.
Third set: 25-23 Huskies
Moncton’s momentum continued into third set, with an ace from Mia Ladd opening up a 3-0 lead. The Huskies came back thanks to two kills and a block from Esther Wildeboer, but back-to-back blocks from Kyana Sivret extended the Moncton lead to 7-4. After the Huskies tied it at nine, a kill and ace from Anne Paquette put Moncton ahead 9-7. An ace from Jordin Parsons tied the set at 12-12, but Paquette continued her great play with two more kills to put Moncton ahead 15-12. A Brea De Souza ace cut the lead to 17-15, but Moncton’s blocking duo of Myriam Gauthier and Tori Casey came up huge with three blocks in the set. An ace from Emilia Mikanovich tied the set at 21-21, and an ace from Jordin Parsons put the Huskies ahead 24-22, on their way to a 25-23 third set win.Saint Mary’s right side Esther Wildeboer was named Player of the Match, recording 14 points on 12 kills, two aces and adding 10 digs. Emilia Mikanovich chipped in 15 points on 13 kills, two blocks and 13 digs. Taylor Lougheed dished out 29 assists and added four blocks.
Fourth set: 25-18 Huskies
The Huskies opened up an early 7-5 lead thanks in part to great setting from Taylor Lougheed, and kills from Mikanovich and Jordin Parsons. Moncton answered with back-to-back kills from Mia Jolicoeur and Emma Burns to tie it at 9-9, but a Mikanovich service ace, followed by kills from Brea De Souza and Taylor Lougheed to open up a 12-9 advantage. Back-to-back De Souza kills extended the Huskies lead to 14-10. Several kills from Wildeboer and Mikanovich extended the Huskies lead to 19-13. Moncton made a late run with a kill and a block from Kyana Sivret, and a kill from Mia Joliceour to cut it to 21-17, but Saint Mary’s finished the set strong with a kill from Jordin Parsons, before Brea De Souza finished off the set with a kill, giving the Huskies a 25-18 fourth set win.
Fifth set: 15-12 Huskies
Moncton opened the decisive fifth set with a pair of kills from Casey, bookended by an ace from Ladd, giving them a 3-0 lead. The Huskies answered with kills from Mikanovich and Lougheed, But Moncton extended their lead to 6-2 after a kill from Burns, forcing a Huskies timeout. Anne Paquette continued her outstanding play with a kill and ace to put Moncton ahead 11-6. But the Huskies rallied back, with kills from Mikanovich, Wildeboer and Parsons tying the set at 11-11. Kills from Mikanovich and De Souza pu tthe Huskies ahead 14-12, and Jordin Parsons finished off the set with a block to give the Huskies a 15-12 fifth set victory.
The Huskies were led by 22.5 points (17 kills, four aces, 1.5 blocks and 13 digs) from Emilia Mikanovich, and 21.5 points (20 kills, one ace and 19 digs) from Esther Wildeboer. Taylor Lougheed dished out 24 assists along with two kills, two blocks and an ace on her way to Player of the Game honours.
Moncton was led by a match-high 26 points (23 kills, three aces, 17 digs) by Anne Paquette, while Tori Casey added 17.5 points (12 kills, three assists, 2.5 blocks and eight digs), and Mia Ladd dished out a match-high 49 assists.The Aigles Bleues improve to 1-1, while the Huskies drop to 2-1.
The U SPORTS #8 ranked Huskies improve to 3-0, while the Aigles Bleues drop to 0-2. The two teams will face off again on Sunday, Nov. 2, this time in Moncton, with first service at 2 p.m.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
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