Huskies defeat Tigers in straight sets

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's setter Taylor Lougheed dished out a match high 23 assists, leading the Huskies to a straight set win (25-22, 25-17, 25-20) over the Dalhousie Tigers in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action on Sunday evening at the Homburg Centre in Halifax, NS.

First set: 25-22 Huskies

Huskies started strong with a pair of Alena Piatukhova blocks helping them open up a 4-0 lead. Back-to-back Esther Wildeboer kills extended the SMU lead to 7-2, forcing a Tigers timeout. The Huskies continued their strong play, with a pair of Emilia Mikanovich back row kills extending the lead to 14-8. But Dal stormed back, with a six-point service run from Jaimie Pike cutting the deficit to 16-15.  That's when Mikanovich took over, scoring four of the next five points to put Saint May's ahead 20-16. The Tigers responded with some strong service from Brooke Graham cutting the lead to 24-22, but Jordin Parsons finished it off with a kill to give the Huskies a 25-22 first set win.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jordin Parsons finishes off the first set as the Huskies take it 25-22 over the Tigers! pic.twitter.com/GdAoKwLEdy

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2025

Emilia Mikanovich led the Huskies with 8.0 points (six kills, one ace, one block) in the set, while Esther Wildeboer added 4.5 points. The Tigers were led by Dominika Aniolowska and Ella Hornby with 2.5 points each.

Second set: 25-17 Huskies

Parsons picked up where she left off, opening the second set with an ace, and moments later back-to-back kills to put the Huskies ahead 7-5. Parsons' excellent serving continued, with back-to-back aces extending Saint Mary's lead to 12-7. The Huskies opened up a 22-13 lead thanks to several kills from Wildeboer and Mikanovich, but a late Tigers run cut the lead to 23-16, before a Piatukhova kill finished off the set, 25-17.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Alena Piatukhova finishes off the first set as the Huskies win it 25-17, and take a 2-0 lead over the Tigers! pic.twitter.com/ZGniLuZKIH

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2025

Third set: 25-20 Huskies

The third set began with strong play from Alena Piatukohva, as she scored three quick points, followed by back-to-back kills from Esther Wildeboer and Emilia Mikanovich to open up a 7-3 lead and force a Tigers timeout. A Mikanovich ace extended the lead to 11-5 lead, but Dal came roaring back with several kills from Ella Hornby and Paris Stewart to cut the lead to 12-10. The two Halifax rivals exchanged points, with the Huskies maintaining a two-point lead, until a Paris Stewart ace tied the set at 16-16. A service run from Aniolowska tied the score again at 20-20, but the Huskies closed the set on a five-point run, capped off with a Piatukhova block to take the set 25-20, and win the match in three straight sets.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Alena Piatukhova finishes off the first set as the Huskies win it 25-17, and take a 2-0 lead over the Tigers! pic.twitter.com/ZGniLuZKIH

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 16, 2025

Huskies setter Taylor Lougheed was named Player of the Match with 23 assists, 14 digs and two blocks. Emilia Mikanovich led the scoring with 18.0 points (14 kills, three aces, one block and four digs) while Esther Wildeboer chipped in 12.0 points (11 kills, two blocks, 15 digs).

The Tigers were led by Paris Stewart's nine kills, and 22 assists from Madelyn MacLaughlin.

The Huskies win snaps a three-game losing streak and improves their record to 5-3 on the season. Saint Mary's have next weekend off returning to play on November 28 & 29, as they visit the Memorial Sea-Hawks (2-4) in St. John's, NL.

The Tigers drop to 3-5 and will be back in action on November 28, visiting the Acadia Axewomen (2-5) in Wolfville, N.S.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Matthew Stewart / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics