ST. JOHN’S, NL – Saint Mary’s left side Emilia Mikanovich put up a match-high 21.0 points, leading the Huskies to a five set (19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 15-12) win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks in game one of the Atlantic University Sport women’s volleyball best-of-three semifinal on Friday night at the Memorial Fieldhouse.
In the first set, the two teams were evenly matched, trading leads until the Sea-Hawks went on a five point run, capped by an ace from Naomie McWhinney to put them ahead 16-11. The Huskies fought back, with a kill from middle Alena Piatukhova tying the set again at 19-19. But the Sea-Hawks closed the set strong, with five kills from Courtney Hodder and an ace from Taylar Johnston, giving Memorial a 25-19 first set win.
The second set saw the Huskies get out to a hot start, with All-Rookie team middle Jordin Parsons recording two quick kills and a service ace as SMU took a 6-1 lead. The Sea-Hawks cut it to 12-10, but Saint Mary’s opened up another lead off of service from Syree Tucker, and a trio of kills from AUS MVP Emilia Mikanovich. An ace from setter Grace Blaskovits gave the Huskies a 21-17 advantage, but Memorial cut it to 24-22 off back-to-back kills from Courtney Hodder, before Syree Tucker delivered a set-point kill to win the set 25-23, and tie the match at one set a piece.
Saint Mary’s momentum continued into the third set, opening up an early 6-3 lead with two kills from Esther Wildeboer. Once again, Memorial was able to tie it up thanks in part to some great service from Taylar Johnston. A trio of kills from Johnston, Hodder and Lydia Grawer gave Memorial a 19-17 advantage, but the Huskies closed with an eight point unanswered run, highlighted by four Mikanovich kills and a Jordin Parsons ace, giving SMU a 25-19 third set win, and taking a two-set to one advantage.
With their backs against the wall, Memorial was able to keep the match alive with a 25-16 fourth set win, highlighted by a six point run behind Hodder’s service, and a kill from Nella Woelfel to force a decisive fifth set.
The fifth set was another close battle, before Memorial went on a three-point run with a Karen Greek service ace putting them ahead 8-2. But Saint Mary’s came storming back, scoring seven straight points including a Mikanovich ace and a pair of Syree Tucker kills to take a 9-8 lead. With the match tied at 10-10, Jordin Parsons delivered a kill, and Memorial committed several errors, before Mikanovich finished off the Sea-Hawks with a match-point kill, giving the Huskies the five set win.
Emilia Mikanovich was named Boston Pizza Player of the Game, pacing the Huskies attach with 21 points (19 kills, 12 digs, two aces, one assist). Alena Piatukhova chipped in 13 points (10 kills, 2.0 blocks, one ace, three digs) and Syree Tucker added 12 points (10 kills, two aces, eight digs) while Taylor Lougheed (32 assists and two aces) and Grace Blaskovits (15 kills and two aces) were effective splitting setter duties.
The Sea-Hawks were led by Courtney Hodder’s 21 points (17 kills, 14 digs, 3.0 blocks, one ace), Lydia Grawer’s 20.5 points (17 kills, 14 digs, 2.5 blocks, one ace). Taylar Johnston added 14 points, including a match-high seven aces, and Karen Greek dished out a match-high 44 assists at setter.
With the win, the Huskies take the lead in the best-of-three semifinal series, with game two being played on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. NST at the Memorial Fieldhouse.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
Photos by @ucephoto / Memorial Sea-Hawks Athletics