Seawolves Outlast Mount Allison in Five-Set Thriller
Saint John, NB — The UNBSJ Seawolves women's volleyball team turned in one of its most resilient performances of the season Sunday afternoon, battling past the Mount Allison Mounties in a five-set showdown at the G. Forbes Elliot Athletic Centre, earning a 25–11, 20–25, 25–19, 23–25, 15–12 victory.
UNBSJ wasted little time setting the tone, controlling the opening set with aggressive serving and steady defensive coverage that forced Mount Allison into a negative hitting percentage. The Mounties answered in the second, finding rhythm offensively to level the match, but the Seawolves responded with confidence in the third, capitalizing on transition chances and maintaining pressure at the net.
The fourth set saw momentum swing back and forth as both teams traded runs, with Mount Allison edging ahead late to force a decisive fifth. In the final set, UNBSJ showed composure under pressure, executing cleanly in long rallies and pulling away in the closing points to secure the match in front of an electric home crowd.
Emily Robichaud delivered a standout all-around performance, finishing with 17 kills, 19 digs, and two service aces. Already ranking among the ACAA leaders in digs per set, Robichaud's presence in the backcourt proved critical in extending rallies and stabilizing the Seawolves during key moments. Haley Wilson continued her strong season at the net, recording 10 kills on 17 attempts while entering the match as the conference leader in both hitting percentage and blocks per set. Kate McLeod added eight kills, 11 digs, and five block assists, contributing consistently on both sides of the ball.
Setter Kyra McCord guided the offence with 37 assists, maintaining her position near the top of the conference in assists per set as UNBSJ finished the match hitting .230 as a team. Defensively, the Seawolves were relentless, totalling 76 digs, with Kenzie Doucet contributing 18 in support.
The victory was made more notable by the absence of outside hitter Dom Gendron, a key piece of the Seawolves' lineup. Gendron entered the weekend ranked among the ACAA leaders in kills per set and service aces per set, and UNBSJ's ability to adjust offensively without her highlighted the team's depth and balance.
Mount Allison was led by Mya Artibello, who recorded 14 kills and 17 digs, and senior Sarah Mason added 13 kills and entered the match near the top of the ACAA in total digs. Despite strong defensive efforts, the Mounties were held to a .048 hitting percentage on the afternoon.
The win carries important weight in the ACAA standings. UNBSJ improves to 9–4 on the season and extends its winning streak to two matches, sitting third in the conference with 18 points. With conference leaders Mount Allison 12–4 and STU holding an 11–3 record, the Seawolves continue to solidify their position among the league's top contenders as the playoff race tightens.
--- Russel Malally, BSW '27 ---