Axewomen defeat Huskies to advance to first AUS final since 2018

(HALIFAX, N.S.) – The Acadia Axewomen will be playing for the 2023 Subway AUS Volleyball Championship after defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies in four sets (25-18, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17) in game three of the AUS best-of-three semifinal on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre. 

For the third consecutive night, the Huskies and Axewomen had a competitive battle on the court, exchanging leads throughout the match. In the opening set, the Axewomen opened up an early 12-9 lead, but the Huskies got some momentum going after a big block from middle Madison Hann and outside hitter Olivia Bell to cut into the lead. 

The Axewomen had a slight 17-16 advantage before scoring five straight points thanks to some clutch service by reserve setter Katie MacLean (Humbold, SK) and dominant play at the net from middle Wesley-Ann Bailey (Ottawa, ON), and the Axewomen went on to win the set 25-18. 

The second set saw the Huskies open up an early 6-3 lead off an ace from Hann. But the Axewomen clawed back with serving runs from setter Charlotte Dean (Mississauga, ON) and outside hitter Taylor Witty (Dartmouth, N.S.) putting them ahead 17-12.  

A late service ace from setter Taylor Lougheed (Calgary, AB) was able to cut the Axewomen lead to 23-21, but that was as close as the Huskies could get, and back-to-back kills by Sydney Zakutney finished off the Huskies and gave Acadia the 25-21 second set victory. 

With the Huskies backs against the wall, they left everything on the court in the third set. Acadia led 14-11 before Hann went on a seven point service run, highlighted by some great play from Huskies all-star right side Megan Bruhm (Hubley, N.S.) to put the home team in front 18-14. Saint Mary’s was able to finish off the set with a kill from second team all-star Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus) and the Huskies won the third set 25-18 to force a fourth set. 

The Axewomen seemed determined to not allow the Huskies to force the game to a fifth set, opening up a quick 10-4 lead led by two kills each from Charlotte Dean and Eve Collombin (Victoria, B.C.). A pair of kills from Olivia Bell (LaHave, N.S.) cut the Axewomen lead to 17-11, but Acadia’s depth showed in the fourth set, with six different players recording at least one kill. A Zakutney service ace pushed the Huskies to the brink, and the Axewomen were able to finish the Huskies off 25-17, to advance to the AUS final.  

Axewomen outside hitter Sydney Zakutney was named Subway Player of the Game, recording a game-high 16.5 points, including 12 kills, 13 digs and four service aces. Taylor Witty chipped in 10 kills and 12 digs, and Charlotte Dean posted a match-high 39 assists as well as five kills and two service aces. 

Huskies left side Emilia Mikanovich was named Subway Player of the Game for Saint Mary's, with 12 kills, 19 digs and two service aces, while countrymate Alena Piatukhova chipped in five kills and a game-high eight blocks. 

The Axewomen victory punches their ticket to the AUS Championship Final for the first time since 2018. They’ll take on the Dalhousie Tigers, who defeated the UNB REDS in two games in the other semifinal, and will play for their 10th consecutive AUS volleyball championship. 

-Recap courtesy of Allan April, Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics