Mystics defeat Blue Devils in four-set thriller

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics triumphed over their crosstown rival University of King's College Blue Devils 19-25, 25-19, 25-18, 33-31 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.

The Blue Devils took the early advantage in the first set, highlighted by a service ace by Maddie Dever (Quispamsis, NB) to give the Blue Devils a 4-1 lead. The Mystics looked to answer the early barrage by the Blue Devils but it was to no avail as the Blue Devils to piled up points due to the Mystics' unforced errors in the set. The unforced errors led to a 14-7 lead for the Blue Devils but the Mystics responded with a kill from Cela MacLellan (Sydney, NS) and a block by the Mystics at the net to close the gap to 14-9. The Mystics could not get any closer as the Blue Devils continued to expand on their lead. The Blue Devils took the first set 25-15.

Early in the set, both teams jockeyed to gain the upper hand in the second set. The Mystics had the first lead, as Catherine MacPhail (Halifax, NS) opened the set with a kill, followed by an ace by MacLellan. The Blue Devils responded with a kill from Kaitlyn Legault (Calgary, AB) and a block at the net by Breagh Powell (Fall River, NS) to even the set at 2. The Blue Devils were able to gain some momentum midway through the set with a kill from Powell, followed by consecutive aces by Neufeld to give them a 9-7 lead. As the set continued, the Mystics looked for an answer to the Blue Devils' attack, and they received it when MacLellan had consecutive aces of her own, to give the Mystics a 12-11 lead. As the battle continued, there were a total of nine ties in this set, each team looked for a pivotal swing to win the set. With the game at 18-17 for the Mystics, they anchored three crucial plays which led to their set victory. MacLellan's kill, followed by a double block by McKenzie Antle (Bishop's Falls, NL) and MacLellan, and an ace by Hannah Huntley (Truro, NS). The Mystics captured the second set victory 25-19, as they tied the match up at 1-1.

The Mystics started the third set off where they left off in the previous set, as they jumped out to the early 5-2 lead, which forced the Blue Devils to call their first timeout of the set. The Blue Devils were able to keep things tight out of the technical break but the Mystics mounted a seven-point run, capped off by two aces by MacLellan and a kill by Mia Murphy (Truro, NS) to give the Mystics a 12-5 lead. After the run, it was imperative for the Blue Devils to claim a run of their run, and that's exactly what they did. They started their run with a block from Powell, followed by an unforced error by the Mystics, a kill from Neufeld, and an ace by Ella Walsh (St. John's, NL) to shorten the lead to 12-10 for the Mystics. As the set continued, the Mystics continued their efficient play, as they jumped to a 20-13 lead. The Blue Devils would make one more run in the set in their attempt to comeback, but the Mystics would take the third set victory 25-18. The Mystics led the match 2-1.

The Blue Devils struck first in the fourth set, as they had an early 4-1 lead as Walsh had two kills for the Blue Devils. The Mystics were trailing the Blue Devils 2-5 when they would have their second large run of the night. This time, it was an eight-point run highlighted by kills by MacPhail and Sarah Ryan (Inverness, NS) to give the Mystics a 10-5 advantage. The Blue Devils called a timeout as they hoped to regroup. Unforced errors by the Mystics in the ensuing plays allowed for the Blue Devils back into the set. MacLellan responded for the Mystics with a kill and an ace on the following serve to give the Mystics a 14-10 lead. The Blue Devils were able to chip away at the Mystics lead, where Neufeld served an ace to tie the game up at 20-20. As both teams looked to claim the fourth set, the spectators in attendance were in for a thrilling finish to the set. The Blue Devils had the first attempt to win the set but the Mystics had a huge kill from Murphy to tie the set 24-24. The Mystics would have their first attempt to win the set, but the Blue Devils won the point, thanks to a kill from Avalon Legault (Calgary, AB). Both teams were not able to close out their opponent multiple times throughout the fourth set. With the score deadlocked at 30-30, Ryan regained the momentum for the Mystics as they had a chance to win the set for the match. Avalon Legault had another kill for the Blue Devils to tie the set at 31. The Mystics were able to win the next two points of the set due to unforced errors by the Blue Devils, as they conquered the set 33-31 and won the match 3-1.

Stat leaders for the Mystics:

Catherine MacPhail - 14 kills, 11 digs and two aces
Cela MacLellan - Seven aces, eight kills
McKenzie Antle - 28 assists

Stat leaders for the Blue Devils:

Kaitlyn Legault - 11 kills
Claire Davis (Charlottetown, PE) - 31 assists
Maddie Dever - 18 digs

The Mystics moved to 5-3 and the Blue Devils fall to 4-4. The Mystics return to the court on Saturday, November 30th when they host the Holland Hurricanes at 2:00pm. The Blue Devils return to the court on Saturday, November 30th when they host the l'université de Saint-Anne Dragons at 2:00pm.