UNBSJ Closes Strong to Take Four-Set Win Over Université Sainte-Anne

The University of New Brunswick Saint John Seawolves picked up a key Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association win Saturday night, defeating Université Sainte-Anne 3–1 (25–13, 22–25, 25–20, 25–23) at the G. Forbes Elliot Athletics Centre. The victory moves UNBSJ to 8–7 on the season, while USTA drops to 10–5.

UNBSJ came out sharp in the opening set, delivering one of their most efficient offensive stretches of the match. The Seawolves hit an impressive .458 in Set 1, piling up 12 kills with just one error. Cameron Willis was nearly unstoppable early, attacking at a blistering .700 clip for the match, while Gabe Powell also made an immediate impact, finishing with nine kills on a .467 hitting percentage. Their fast tempo and clean execution overwhelmed Université Sainte-Anne, who hit into negative efficiency in the first frame.

The visitors responded in Set 2, tightening their defence and extending rallies. Liam Pelletier led USTA's attack with 14 kills, while Louis-Philippe LeBlanc added nine. USTA's serve pressure created just enough disruption to pull away late and even the match at one set apiece.

Set 3 marked a shift back toward UNBSJ control. Jacob Huisman contributed across the board with nine kills, two service aces, 13 digs, and a block, while William Siefker added 10 kills and steady passing. The Seawolves' block began to slow Sainte-Anne's outside hitters, with Willis and Huisman each getting hands on key stops. UNBSJ's balanced scoring helped them regain the match lead.

The fourth set proved the tightest of the night. Université Sainte-Anne hit their best percentage of the match (.250) and pushed late, but UNBSJ stayed composed in the closing rallies. Jackson Ramier directed the offence with 31 assists, spreading the attack effectively to keep the block guessing. Willis sealed several critical points with both offence and net defence, finishing with 13 points, three aces, and five total blocks.

Defensively, John Benfica anchored the back row with 13 digs, while Huisman and Siefker combined for 17 more. As a team, UNBSJ recorded 45 kills to USTA's 32 and held a clear edge in offensive efficiency (.225 to .062).

The win keeps UNBSJ in the thick of the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association playoff race, showing once again that their depth and defensive structure make them difficult to close out in tight matches.

--- Russell Malally, BSW '27 ---