By Reegan MacAulay
A hectic weekend for the Holland Hurricanes saw a total of 10 games between Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) and Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) competition contested. Most notably, the men’s volleyball team ended the 2024 portion of their season strong, and the women’s hockey team returned to action.
Here’s what happened between Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes had a weekend left to be desired, losing both of their games in New Brunswick on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Holland visited the Mount Allison Mounties in Sackville, N.B., who they were in a tie with for second place in the conference. Despite each set being close and each team scoring above 20 points, the Mounties had a better clutch performance, which helped them to a win in straight sets. The Hurricanes dropped to 5-3 and Mount Allison improved to 6-1.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes ventured to Saint John, N.B. to take on the undefeated, league-leading University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves, who had just defeated UKC the previous day 3-0. While Holland had the better start, which included a 21-15 lead and a final 26-24 score in the first set, the Seawolves shifted the momentum in the middle of the second set en route to a 25-22 set win. The third set was similar with a close 25-23 win for UNBSJ. In the fourth and final set, the Seawolves jumped out to 11-3 and 16-9 leads, eventually hanging on to win the set 25-18 and the game 3-1.
Fourth-year left-sides Morgan White (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and Jenna O’Neill (Cornwall, P.E.I.) combined for 28 kills and 45 digs across both games, with other players including fourth-year left-side Jamie Spencer (Fort Frances, Ontario) and third-year right-side Charlotte Sweetapple (Corner Brook, NL) putting forward solid contributions.
The Hurricanes dropped to 5-4 and the Seawolves improved to 8-0. Holland will wrap up the first half of the season with a trip to Halifax, N.S. to take on the 4-3 MSVU Mystics next weekend.
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Men’s Volleyball
The men’s volleyball Hurricanes couldn’t have asked for a better ending to the first half of their season as they swept the UNBSJ Seawolves with back-to-back victories on Saturday and Sunday in Saint John, N.B.
Both games were incredibly competitive, and that can still be said for Saturday despite the result being in just three sets. Each team swapped leads in the first set, with Holland eventually forced to call a timeout after a three-point run gave UNBSJ a 17-14 lead. While it took some time for the Hurricanes to rally off the quick reset, they surprised the Seawolves by coming back from down 24-22 to win the set 26-24. The second set saw the Hurricanes narrowly lead the whole way and edge UNBSJ 25-22 in a nail-biter. In the third and final set, the Seawolves exploded to a 5-1 lead, which was quickly shelved by an unbelievable individual performance by rookie right-side Lucas Lavigne (Bathurst, N.B.), who was a key factor in turning things around for his squad, who eventually took control and held on 25-18 to claim a straight-set win.
Sunday’s match was a big test for the Hurricanes, especially with the team knowing this would be their final time on the court in ACAA regular-season action until January. Holland jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first set, but the Seawolves, who were hungry for revenge, stormed back to take a 12-11 lead ahead of a Hurricanes timeout. UNBSJ continued to hound on Holland, holding on for a 25-21 set win. The second set saw the exact same pattern with the Hurricanes taking an early lead but the Seawolves coming back and forcing Holland to call a timeout. Later, each team exchanged leads, and it was UNBSJ who took advantage of a Hurricanes error to win the second set 25-21.
With one set loss away from ending the first half of the season with a loss, Holland rallied with resilience to force a fifth set. The third set saw them down multiple times, but the squad came in clutch once the score hit the 20s, winning 25-23. In the fourth set, they turned around a 9-8 deficit to lead 20-15 and then came back from a 19-19 tie to win the set 25-22. The fifth and final set tested the squad’s patience and defensive abilities, but after multiple lead swaps, it was a kill by third-year middle Nathan Wills (Bonshaw, P.E.I.) and an attack error by UNBSJ that gave the Hurricanes a 17-15 set win and a 3-2 game win.
Third-year left-side Carson Gray (Stratford, P.E.I.) led the team with 32 kills, 17 digs, and two assists across both games. Third-year setter Tyler McBride (Oakville, Ontario) was a monster playmaker as usual with 73 assists and eight digs. Lavigne and Wills each contributed outstanding depth performances. Rookie libero Connor Daniels (Adelaide, South Australia) was elite defensively all weekend with a total of 28 digs.
The Hurricanes improved to 6-4 with their two victories while the Seawolves dropped to 3-6. The first half of the season has now concluded for Holland, who will enter the second half in third place in the conference with a 6-4 record and a three-game winning streak. They will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 11 and Sunday, Jan. 12 with a doubleheader at the McMillan Centre against the 2-8 Dalhousie Rams.
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Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball Hurricanes split their doubleheader against the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in Halifax, N.S. on Saturday and Sunday, losing 71-60 and winning 74-57.
On Saturday, the Mystics jumped out to a 7-2 lead thanks to multiple three-pointers, but Holland struck back with enough intensity to close the gap to four points at 17-13 at the final buzzer. The momentum swing showed in the second quarter as Holland eventually took the lead, but were taken aback by a final-second point which gave MSVU a 28-27 lead at halftime. The Mystics went on a 10-0 run to start the third quarter, and while the Hurricanes struck back with their own run, they couldn’t catch back up and were down 47-41 at the end despite a strong effort in the fourth and final quarter, Holland was outmatched by multiple big sequences by MSVU, which sealed the deal for a Mystics game win.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes started the game on top but MSVU quickly turned things around, leading 11-9 and extending it to 16-11 by the end of the first quarter. Holland applied better and more intense pressure early in the second quarter, tying the game 18-18. A Mystics timeout would lead to MSVU taking a 25-22 lead, but the Hurricanes retaliated, and from there, the game remained competitive until Holland gained the advantage just before halftime 34-31 thanks to a three-pointer and a jump shot. A 7-0 run after the break would give the Hurricanes enough momentum to start slowly pulling away, leading 56-49 going into the fourth quarter. Despite a few scares, with one forcing Holland to call a timeout while up by eight, they maintained their offensive domination and held on for the overall game victory.
Fifth-year forward Alexa Rancourt (New Dominion, P.E.I.) led the Hurricanes with 32 points and 15 rebounds across two games. Rookie guard Nykeva Wilson-Brown (Halifax, N.S.) impressed in her hometown with 14 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. After recording just five points on Saturday, recent Hurricanes Female Athlete of the Week and third-year guard Lauren Armstrong (Canberra, Australia) bounced back with 21 points, three three-pointers, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
The Hurricanes dropped to 4-2 after Saturday but improved to 5-2 after Sunday, while the Mystics did the opposite of improving to 5-1 and dropping to 5-2. Both teams are still tied but for second place now, as the Mount Allison Mounties defeated Crandall twice this weekend, putting them in the conference lead.
With four wins in their last five games, Holland will look to end the first half of the season with a two-game winning streak next Friday, Nov. 29, when they will head to Fredericton, N.B. to challenge the 3-2 STU Tommies.
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Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball Hurricanes still have yet to solve their woes against the reigning ACAA champions, as the MSVU Mystics scored their second and third consecutive wins against Holland this season on Saturday and Sunday in Halifax, N.S.
On Saturday, in a rematch of a game between the two teams earlier this month at the McMillan Centre, things got chippy right off the bat, with each squad getting points on the board. Steadily, the Mystics put themselves ahead with several good runs, eventually leading 33-22 at the last buzzer. Holland had a hotter start in the second quarter, but MSVU made sure to maintain a decent lead throughout the quarter. A Hurricanes timeout wouldn’t do enough to get the score any closer than 10 points by halftime.
That changed in the third quarter as yet another great start had them down 65-59 midway through, forcing MSVU to call a timeout. Holland pushed hard to gain an advantage going into the fourth and final quarter but were denied by a three-pointer which gave the Mystics a 73-71 lead going into the final quarter, which was offensively dominated by MSVU. They outscored the Hurricanes 25-8 en route to a 98-79 game win.
On Sunday, the opportunity for a “third time’s the charm” form of revenge by Holland was quickly squandered, at first, as the Mystics jumped out to a 14-1 lead, forcing a Hurricanes timeout. That proved to be unsuccessful when MSVU gained a 21-3 lead halfway through the first quarter, and while Holland salvaged a few points, the lead was at 29-12 at the final buzzer. The Hurricanes slowly began to reel the Mystics in with five more points in the second quarter in total and were down 50-38 at halftime.
An aggressive start in the third quarter was retaliated upon by an 11-0 run by MSVU, and further attacking gave them a 74-54 lead going into the fourth quarter. When the fourth quarter rolled around, each team traded baskets to start, but as the minutes wound down, Holland started to gain control of the court and gradually decreased the deficit, which forced the Mystics to call a timeout. The offensive attacks by the Hurricanes continued and, down by eight, they called a timeout with 45 seconds remaining. As much as they tried, there was no denying the league leaders, who held on to win the game 88-82.
Fifth-year guard Bryce Corless (Quispamsis, N.B.) led the team on Saturday with 23 points, two three-pointers, four rebounds, one assist, and one block. Second-year guard Aaron Simmons (Nassau, Bahamas) pioneered the squad on Sunday with 18 points, two three-pointers, four assists, three steals, and two rebounds. Third-year guard Spencer Rossiter (Summerside, P.E.I.) and second-year forward Owen Parsons (Hebbville, N.S.) each took turns at contributing to the team over the weekend.
The Hurricanes dropped to 3-4 with the two losses while the Mystics improved to 7-0 and have yet to lose a game since the season started in late October. The men will join the women on Friday, Nov. 29 in Fredericton, N.B. and play the 3-2 men’s STU Tommies for the first time to wrap up the first half of the season.
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Women’s Hockey
The women’s hockey Hurricanes went winless across two ACHA games against the Acadia University Axewomen in Wolfville, N.S., with each result featuring a one-goal difference, 3-2 and 2-1.
On Saturday, Holland arrived in Wolfville eager for better performances after going 1-1-0 against Acadia in the season-opening doubleheader in late October. Unfortunately, the Axewomen came out fiery, piling two goals against the Hurricanes within eight and a half minutes in the first period.
The score remained 2-0 until third-year forward Livi Lawlor (Sherwood, P.E.I.) got Holland on the board just before the halfway point of the second period. Acadia added another goal to go back up by two goals heading into the third period. Second-year forward Josie Lynch (Lunenburg, N.S.) cut the Axewomen’s lead back to one with a breakaway goal eight minutes into the third period, but that wouldn’t be enough to force the game into overtime.
Sunday’s game saw a similar start as Acadia scored a rebound goal with 16:35 remaining in the first period, but Holland denied them from stretching their lead further ahead by the end of the period. Early in the second period, Axewomen forward Jenni Simpson turned the puck over from Hurricanes captain and second-year forward Kristyn Taylor (Summerside, P.E.I.) right in front of fourth-year goaltender Emma Arsenault (Seartletown, P.E.I.) and deked the puck around Arsenault to extend her team’s lead to 2-0.
Despite a valiant effort by Holland to get back into the match, which included a late third-period power-play goal by Lawlor, they couldn’t prevail against the dominant Axewomen.
The Hurricanes dropped to 1-3-0 after the weekend while Acadia improved to 5-0-1 and extended their winning streak to three games after Saturday and four after Sunday.
Holland will look to get back in the win column with another road trip doubleheader next weekend on Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1, which will be in Cape Breton, N.S. against the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers. It will be the final one of the first half of the season.
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