Huskies win Volleyball Opener vs Acadia

(HALIFAX, NS)—The Saint Mary's Huskies opened the 2017-18 AUS volleyball season with a 3-0 sweep over the Acadia Axewomen Saturday night from the Homburg Centre.

The Huskies took the three sets 25-20, 25-14, 25-14.

Erin Smith (Moncton, NB) returns for her 5^th year and powered the SMU offence with a team-high 11 kills on the night while teammate Maddie Clarke (Ottawa, ON) added 10 kills in the win.

Each team had 11 kills in the first set while Acadia had more total attacks (40-31) than Saint Mary's. Tied 11-11, Saint Mary's went on a 15-9 run down the stretch, closing out the set 25-20.

The Huskies lost the first point in the second set then pushed into the lead with a 9-6 run, taking a slim 10-7 lead. A 10-6 run saw SMU out front 20-13 and Saint Mary's closed the second set on a 5-1 spurt and took the set 25-14.

Saint Mary's took a 5-0 early lead in the third set and used that momentum to build leads of 10-3, 15-6, 20-12 and the final 25-14.

Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) paced the Axewomen's offence with 12.0 points, 11 kills and 33 total attacks in the loss, as Acadia drops to 0-2 on the year.

Lauryn Renzella (Stouffville, ON) finished with six kills and Sarah Ross (Toronto, ON) and Sydney Tonner (Calgary, AB) each had three for Acadia.

Anna Watt (Calgary, AB) led SMU with 21 total attacks and a trio of Huskies had seven kills apiece: Lindsay Donovan (London, ON), Kristina Alder (Brampton, ON) and Watt, while Emilla Conlon (Dartmouth, NS) had 32 assists in the victory.

Saint Mary's improves to 1-0 early on the year and visit 1-0 Dalhousie Sunday October 29^th at 1pm, while Acadia travels to 0-1 UNB Saturday November 5^th at 7pm.

Dominic Nolasco, SMU Communications

Photos Mona Ghiz