Tommies Finish Doubleheader with Victory

Fredericton, NB - The St. Thomas University Tommies took on Université de Sainte-Anne Sunday afternoon in the second match of a doubleheader against the Dragons. After losing the first set 17-25, the Tommies battled back to a 3-1 win, taking the next 3 sets by scores of 30-28, 25-20 and 25-18.

After a loss the night before, the Dragons came strong out of the gates. The Tommies trailed the Dragons for the entire set, unable to get past USA's blocks. Head coach for STU, Henri Mallet, noted that USA had cleaned up their first contact since the night before and their tough serving outmatched the Tommies' passing. Notably, USA's Braidey Spinney (Wedgeport, NS) had three aces throughout the match.

"They were hot starting the match," said Mallet. "We just didn't panic and kept at it."

The second set was a game of ping pong, with longer rallies and momentum swinging both ways. It would begin with the teams being locked at a 5-5 tie, but the Dragons snuck away with the lead eventually going up 17-13. Strong kills by Austin Hamilton (Miramichi, NB) and Adam McDougall (Calgary, AB) would keep it close and help STU tie it up at 22-22. Both teams missed serves to give a nail-biting finish to the second set, where Raphael Fiset's (Calgary, AB) serve would help the Tommies edge out the second set 30-28.

The Tommies would keep the momentum shifted in their direction for the third and fourth set, with key digs from Brendan Murphy (Fredericton, NB) and blocks from Jacob Tratch (Saskatoon, SK) to keep the rallies alive.

"At the end of the third start of the fourth we started passing really well," said Coach Mallet, "I think that's really what made the difference."

He said that veteran players Adam McDougall and Brendan Murphy are looked to in tight games like these to get the group together and reset. McDougall led the Tommies in kills with 12, while first-years Brenton Romanchuk and Jacob Tratch would follow closely with nine each. Murphy led the team in digs with 15.

USA wouldn't make it easy, with outside hitter Louis-Philippe LeBlanc (Dieppe, NB) posting an impressive 20 kills for the Dragons, but ultimately STU would take the last two sets to extend their win streak to three.

The Dragons won't have to wait long for a chance to beat the Tommies, as the teams meet again next weekend on November 26th in USA's home gym.

Recap by: Martina Barclay