By Reegan MacAulay
The Holland Hurricanes began February with strong efforts in volleyball and basketball, and several graduating players were honoured before each basketball team’s final regular season home games.
Here’s what happened between Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes fell short in a hard-fought mid-conference match against the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies 3-1 on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Fredericton, N.B.
Holland had a fantastic start, going up 8-3 in the first set. The Tommies quickly swallowed their lead with a nine-point run, forcing a Hurricanes timeout up 12-8. Holland showed resilience and kept things close but it wasn’t enough as STU pulled away with a 25-19 first set win. The second set had a similar start to the first with the Hurricanes jumping ahead and the Tommies quickly closing the gap; this time, however, Holland held an advantage and made several adjustments which helped them to a 25-21 second set win.
Both teams exchanged leads and points in a chaotic third set. Although the Hurricanes held multiple close leads, STU gained control and consistency within the final points, ultimately winning the set 25-22 and taking a 2-1 game lead. An intense fourth and final set saw Holland lead multiple times and were on pace to force an extra set. Unfortunately, after a Hurricanes timeout, the Tommies went from down 24-19 to stealing the set 27-25, winning the game 3-1.
Fourth-year left-sides Jamie Spencer (Fort Frances, Ontario) and Jenna O’Neill (Cornwall, P.E.I.) combined for 19 kills, 23 digs, and two service aces. Fourth-year middle and reigning Hurricanes Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week Myah Utrosa (Brooklin, Ontario) recorded nine kills, two digs, and one service ace. Second-year setter Hannah Power (Corner Brook, NL) contributed 34 assists and seven digs, and rookie libero Erica Correard (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) scored 10 digs.
The Hurricanes dropped to 7-10, extending their losing streak to three games and tying them with UKC for sixth in the conference. The Tommies improved to 9-8, putting them two points ahead of Holland for fifth. STU’s win extended their winning streak to six games.
The Hurricanes find themselves within dangerous territory heading into the next two weekends with the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships approaching quickly. Tied for the final playoff spot with three games remaining in the regular season, all at home, the upcoming stretch will be crucial with multiple “do or die” games. Next weekend will be the most important of the season as the winless USTA Dragons visit the McMillan Centre on Saturday, Feb. 8 and the UKC Blue Devils come to town on Sunday, Feb. 9. Hurricanes fans are urged to attend, cheering loud and proud, to help the ‘Canes secure a playoff spot.
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Men’s Volleyball
The men’s volleyball Hurricanes remain winless against the STU Tommies after back-to-back losses this past weekend in Fredericton, N.B. and will have to wait until the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships to conquer them.
On Saturday, the Hurricanes gave the Tommies their biggest challenge thus far in the regular season series. The match began with a phenomenal start for Holland, as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Although STU put forth a big comeback rally, their momentum was cut short by a late Hurricanes timeout. Holland took the first set 25-21. The second set was the complete opposite of set one as the Tommies flew out of the gates with great force, leading 6-0, 10-3, and 18-5, ultimately taking the set 25-8.
The third set was a heated back-and-forth melee which STU eventually won 25-23. They carried the momentum into the fourth set in the early stages but the Hurricanes fought back, capitalizing on multiple late timeouts to edge the Tommies 25-22 and force an extra set. Sadly, the third match against STU wasn’t the charm, as the Tommies took immediate control of the fifth and final set, claiming it 15-9.
Sunday’s game featured flashes of the two teams’ doubleheader in November 2024 as the Hurricanes kept each set tight but couldn’t handle STU’s consistent dominance and pressure. The final set scores were 25-23, 25-21, and 25-20.
Third-year left-side Carson Gray (Stratford, P.E.I.) led the Hurricanes all weekend with 22 kills, 16 digs, four assists, and four service aces. Third-year setter Tyler McBride (Oakville, Ontario) and second-year setter John MacKinnon (Grand Tracadie, P.E.I.) combined for 57 assists across both games. Second-year middle Brett MacAusland (Summerside, P.E.I.) had an impressive weekend with 11 kills, eight digs, and three service aces.
The Hurricanes dropped to 9-7 after the weekend and remain third in the conference, now six points behind STU and four ahead of UNBSJ. The Tommies improved to 12-4 after both games and now carry a five-game winning streak.
The men will join the women with several important home games across the next two weekends, starting with a must-watch doubleheader against the league-leading USTA Dragons this Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9 at the McMillan Centre.
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Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball Hurricanes wrapped up the home portion of the regular season with a doubleheader split against the third-place Mount Allison Mounties at the McMillan Centre, leading to a tie for the conference lead with two games remaining.
On Saturday, the Mounties arrived at the McMillan Centre seeking to catch Holland in the standings for the second and final bye into the 2025 ACAA Basketball Championships semifinals. Mount Allison’s chase started strong, battling the Hurricanes to the brink in a close contest. At halftime, the Hurricanes were up 34-32. The game came down to the wire in the fourth and final quarter and a one-point score heading into the final minute. A layup and two successful free throws in the closing seconds sealed the deal for a 65-59 Mounties win.
Before Sunday’s game, four graduating players were recognized ahead of their final career ACAA regular season home game with the Hurricanes; fifth-year guard forward Alexa Rancourt (New Dominion, P.E.I.), third-year guard Lauren Armstrong (Canberra, Australia), and second-year guards Robyne Driscoll (Portugal Cove St. Phillips, NL) and Mariam Elshenoufy (Cairo, Egypt).
Holland and Mount Allison exchanged points in the first quarter, with the latter leading 21-20 at the final buzzer. The Hurricanes slowly gained control of the game in the second quarter, leading 39-35 at halftime. While the third quarter lacked in scoring, Holland put forth an outstanding defensive effort in the fourth and final quarter, outscoring the Mounties 18-7 and hanging on for a 71-52 game victory.
In their final career games at the McMillan Centre, Rancourt and Armstrong led the team with a combined 64 points, a 24-for-53 field-goal record, a 1-for-3 three-point record, a 15-for-22 free-throw record, 47 rebounds, 14 assists, four steals, and two blocks.
The Hurricanes dropped to 11-4 after Saturday but improved to 12-4 after Sunday while the Mounties improved to 10-3 after Saturday and dropped to 10-4 after Sunday. Holland and MSVU are tied for the conference lead and Mount Allison is four points back of Holland in third.
Next weekend will be significant for Holland’s chase for the regular season championship. While they are set to end their campaign with a road-trip doubleheader against the UKC Blue Devils, it must be noted that MSVU has three games left. That means back-to-back victories on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9 will likely be required for first place to be comfortably achievable.
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Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball Hurricanes concluded the home portion of their regular season campaign with a doubleheader sweep against the Mount Allison Mounties at the McMillan Centre, sending them into their final weekend before the championships with a six-game winning streak and a four-point second-place advantage.
Holland began Saturday’s match with a 23-14 lead after the first quarter, which saw fifth-year guard Bryce Corless (Quispamsis, N.B.) go 2-for-3 in three-point attempts and record eight points. While their momentum dropped in the second quarter, being outscored 30-21, they picked things back up in the third quarter, closing the gap to two points at 64-62. Further adjustments helped the Hurricanes pull ahead in the fourth and final quarter, earning them a steady 89-76 victory.
Before Sunday’s game, five graduating players were recognized ahead of their final career ACAA regular season home game with the ‘Canes; Corless, second-year guards Aaron Simmons (Nassau, Bahamas) and James Mullett (Gander, NL), and third-year guards Tyrell Casimir (Dartmouth, N.S.) and Ryan Mackinnon (Summerside, P.E.I.).
Sunday’s contest featured more scoring overall and a stronger effort by the Mounties, who led 26-14 after the first quarter, were outscored by just four points in the second quarter 30-26 and led the game at halftime 52-44. However, Holland struck back with an incredible comeback effort and made sure they saluted their fans with one last display of greatness before the playoffs. They outscored the Mounties 20-10 in the third quarter and went on to take the game 94-85. The win was head coach Tim Kendrick’s 900th of his career.
With the two victories, Corless and Simmons became the top two leading scorers in the conference with 303 and 280 points respectively. Across both games, the two superstars recorded 102 points, a 37-for-74 field-goal record, a 5-for-21 three-point record, a 23-for-27 free-throw record, 30 rebounds, 12 assists, 13 steals, and two blocks. Meanwhile, third-year guard Spencer Rossiter (Summerside, P.E.I.) quietly recorded 23 points, an 8-for-18 field-goal record, a 3-for-7 three-point record, a 4-for-5 free-throw record, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals over the weekend.
The Hurricanes improved to 11-5 after the weekend while the Mounties dropped to 1-13 and had their losing skid extend to 10 games. With Holland out of reach for first place, currently separated by eight points, it now all comes down to a two-way battle for the second and final bye into the 2025 ACAA Basketball Championships semifinals between them and UNBSJ, who has four games left compared to Holland’s two.
Holland completes regular season competition with another doubleheader against a team at the bottom of the conference; it will be a road trip to Halifax, N.S. to take on the UKC Blue Devils on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9.
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