Huskies top Sea-Hawks 3-1 in Game 1 of championship finals

(HALIFAX, N.S.) The Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the Memorial Sea-Hawks in four sets (25-18, 20-25, 25-19, 25-18) to win Game 1 of the Bell AUS Women's Volleyball Championship final series Saturday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax. 

The Huskies looked comfortable on their homecourt in the first set, as they opened up an early 8-2 lead in front of a packed crowd of over 470 fans. Memorial cut into the lead off of a service run from outside hitter Lydia Grawer (St. Louis, Missouri), including an ace to cut the Huskies lead to 13-10. But Saint Mary's took over late, with a trio of kills from MVP left side Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus, and the Huskies took the opening set 25-18. 

The Sea-Hawks were unfazed, battling back two win the second set. It was a back-and-forth affair, with many lead changes and neither team leading by more than three points, until back-to-back kills from Memorial middle Ashlynn Harris (Orillia, ON) and outside hitter Olivia DeDecker (Kipling, SK) put the visitors ahead 22-17. A service ace from all-star outside hitter Courtney Hodder (Main Point, NL), followed by another Olivia DeDecker kill closed out the set with the Sea-Hawks taking it 25-20 to tie the match at one set a piece. 

The Huskies got off to a strong start in the third set, with a service run from middle Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus) opening up a 9-2 lead. Memorial was able to cut into it late, but the Huskies remained in control, thanks to continued strong play from the Belarussian duo of Mikanovich and Piatukhova. A Courtney Hodder kill cut the Huskies lead to 21-18, but Saint Mary's responded with a kill and service ace from outside hitter Breanna Golding (Pickering, ON), before a Mikanovich kill gave the Huskies the third set victory, 25-19. 

The fifth set started tight, with both teams battling back and forth, and Memorial taking a 10-9 lead after back-to-back kills from Grawer and DeDecker, before Huskies setter Grace Blaskovits (Kelowna, BC) went on an incredible service run, scoring eight straight points including three service aces to open put Saint Mary's in front 18-10. Strong play from right side Sydney Fader (Dartmouth, NS) and middle Anna Liniewski (Burnaby, BC) helped keep the Huskies in front, with Fader scoring back-to-back kills, before a Liniewski block made it 23-13 for the Huskies. With Memorial serving, Breanna Golding scored a kill for match point, as the Huskies won the fourth set 25-18, and took the opening match of the best-of-three finals in four sets. 

The Huskies were led by AUS MVP Emilia Mikanovich, who scored a match-high 16 points on 16 kills, adding seven digs and two assists. Sydney Fader added 11 points on nine kills and three blocks, and Grace Blaskovits was excellent, dishing out a game-high 30 assists and scoring five service aces to lead all players. 

The Sea-Hawks were led in defeat by outside hitter Courtney Hodder, who scored 14 points on 12 kills and two aces. Olivia DeDecker and Lydia Grawer each scored 12 points on 10 kills, and setter Karen Greek dished out 26 assists and a team-high four service aces. 

With the win, the Huskies take the lead in the best-of-three AUS finals series. The Huskies will look to win their first AUS Championship since 2012 on home court, as they host the Sea-Hawks for game two on Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. 

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics