Axewomen edged in tight sets at SMU

HALIFAX, N.S. — Acadia fell 3–0 to Saint Mary's on Sunday at the Homburg Centre, dropping tight opening sets before the Huskies closed out the match 25–23, 31–29, 25–17.

Alexia Lemay-Evans paced the Axewomen with 13 kills, seven digs and four blocks for a team-high 15.0 points. Mia Lemay-Evans added 11.0 points on four kills and five service aces, while right side Jenna Guy finished with seven kills and an ace. Setter Katie MacLean steered the offence with 30 assists and chipped in four digs, one ace and three total blocks. Brianna Bourque was efficient at .286 with five kills and a match-best six block assists.

Acadia hit .152 as a team (35–18–112) and recorded seven aces and 11.0 total team blocks. The Axewomen collected 38 digs, led by Sophie Edgar (10) and Guy (9).

Saint Mary's was led by Emilia Mikanovich (13 kills, .276), Esther Wildeboer (12 kills, .296) and Brea De Souza (10 kills). The Huskies hit .220 with 42 kills and five aces, and out-dug Acadia 53–38.

The first set swung late. Acadia rallied to a 19–17 lead on a Mia Lemay-Evans ace and extended it to 23–22 after a Guy/Bourque stuff, but Saint Mary's closed with three straight points to take it 25–23. The second set was a marathon. Acadia erased a late deficit with a Bourque kill and a Lemay-Evans ace to lead 24–23, then pulled even at 26–26 and 28–28 on Guy kills before the Huskies sealed it 31–29. Saint Mary's carried the momentum into the third, using a 10–3 run to build separation and finish 25–17.

Set scores: 25–23, 31–29, 25–17 (Saint Mary's).

Acadia (0–2) heads to St. John's next weekend for a doubleheader at Memorial.