Seawolves Sweep Université Sainte-Anne to Strengthen Hold Near Top of ACAA Standings

The University of New Brunswick Saint John women's volleyball team continued its strong push up the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association standings Saturday night, sweeping Université Sainte-Anne in straight sets 25 to 23, 25 to 17, and 25 to 9 at the G. Forbes Elliot Athletics Centre. The victory moves UNBSJ to 10 and 4 on the season, keeping them firmly in the top tier of the conference race.

The opening set was competitive, with Université Sainte-Anne coming out sharp offensively and hitting .290 as a team. The visitors kept pace through the middle portion of the set, forcing UNBSJ to earn points in longer rallies. The difference came from the Seawolves' defensive coverage and late set composure, as they cleaned up serve receive and transitioned efficiently to edge ahead 25 to 23.

From there, UNBSJ steadily took control of the match. The second set highlighted the team's offensive balance and efficiency, as the Seawolves hit .424 with 17 kills and just three errors. Ball distribution became more difficult to read, and UNBSJ's serving pressure disrupted Université Sainte-Anne's rhythm. That combination opened up a comfortable margin and a 25 to 17 set win.

The third set turned into a dominant close. UNBSJ's defence limited clean looks, forcing errors and out of system swings, while their transition game stayed aggressive. With Université Sainte-Anne's hitting percentage dropping into negative territory in the frame, the Seawolves capitalized quickly and pulled away for a decisive 25 to 9 finish.

Emily Robichaud led with 12 kills and added four service aces, impacting both the front and back court. Kate McLeod was highly efficient with 13 kills on a .522 hitting percentage, while Haley Wilson and Elenna Bouzingou added five kills each while hitting .500 and .444 respectively. Lauren Gulliver ran the offence with 26 assists, and Kenzie Doucet anchored the back row with 15 digs to keep the defence steady.

For Université Sainte-Anne, Kyana Brideau led the attack with nine kills, and Isabella Cyr added seven kills and four aces, but the visitors were unable to maintain their first set efficiency as UNBSJ's pressure increased.

With this result, UNBSJ strengthens its position near the top of the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association standings, sitting among the conference leaders and building momentum at a key point in the season. The straight sets performance showed the Seawolves' ability to adjust, execute efficiently, and turn a tight start into a commanding finish on home court.

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