Mystics Drop Straight-Set Decision to Hurricanes
The Mystics showed early momentum and battled through key stretches but ultimately dropped a straight-set match to the visiting Hurricanes
(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics battled throughout the match but fell in straight sets to the visiting Holland Hurricanes (25-18, 25-17, 25-16) Saturday afternoon at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.
As the opening set got underway, both teams exchanged points early. The Hurricanes set the tone when Abby MacDonald (Charlottetown, PE) recorded a kill and followed it with a block to edge her team ahead 8-7. The Mystics quickly answered, as Taylor Kukurski (New Denmark, NB) delivered a kill and an ace to regain a 9-8 advantage. Midway through the set, the Hurricanes created separation with a four-point run to take a 19-14 lead, highlighted by kills from Jenna O'Neill (Cornwall, PE) and Morgan Hoskins (Cornwall, PE), along with a block by Mason Babey (Lumsden, SK). The Mystics responded with a block from Rebekah McGeoghegan (Stratford, PE) and an ace by Sadie Theriault (Digby, NS) to close the gap to 19-16, but the Hurricanes closed out the set 25-18.
The Mystics came out strong in the second set, with Kukurski recording four early kills to help build a 5-2 lead. Holding a 7-3 advantage, the Mystics saw the Hurricanes respond with a five-point run, capped by a MacDonald ace, to move ahead 8-7. The teams traded points through the middle of the set, and a stretch of kills from Seven McHatten (Charlottetown, PE), Jenna Allison (Fall River, NS), and Kukurski brought the Mystics even at 15-15. However, the Hurricanes closed the set on a six-point run to secure a 25-17 win.
Carrying momentum into the third, the Hurricanes opened with a six-point run. The Mystics answered with consecutive points and continued to push back midway through the set. After the Hurricanes extended their lead to 17-9, Kukurski and McHatten combined for multiple kills during a three-point response. Despite their efforts, the Mystics were unable to close the gap, and the Hurricanes sealed the match with a 25-16 third-set victory.
Top Performers – Mystics
Taylor Kukurski – 9 kills
Rebekah McGeoghegan – 19 assists
Top Performers – Hurricanes
Jenna O'Neill – 12 kills, 9 digs
Abby MacDonald – 6 blocks, 6 kills
The Mystics return to action tomorrow when they host the UNBSJ Seawolves at 12:00 p.m. at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.