Sea-Hawks eliminate X-Women in AUS quarterfinals

The X-Women volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Memorial Sea-Hawks Friday evening in the quarterfinal playoff game at the Subway AUS Women’s Volleyball Championship hosted at the Universite de Moncton. The loss eliminates them from further competition and ends their 2011-12 season. The Sea-Hawks, ranked fifth heading into the tournament, advance to the semi-finals tonight after defeating the fourth ranked X-Women.

In the other quarterfinal game, the host and sixth ranked Aigles Bleues de Moncton knocked off the third ranked Cape Breton Capers 3-0. The Aigles Bleues will meet the top-seeded Saint Mary’s Huskies in one semi-final, while the Sea-Hawks will play number two Dalhousie.

The Sea-Hawks and X-Women hadn’t met since early on in the AUS regular season. Back on November 5-6th in Antigonish, the X-Women earned 3-0 and 3-1 wins over Memorial, but Friday night the Sea-Hawks had the upper hand, although all games were closely played and points battled. Memorial won the first set by a close 25-23 score, then the X-Women rebounded to take the second set 25-19. The third set went 25-20 in favor of the Sea-Hawks, followed by another close 25-23 game in favor of the eventual victors.

Leading the Sea-Hawks attack was Erin Bursey and Sam March. Bursey had 15 kills and 17 digs as she scored 15 total points, while March contributed 14 kills, nine digs and two blocking assists for 15 points. Angela Peddle chipped in nine kills and was tough along the net for Memorial with seven blocks and two block assists. Gillian Ricketts had 12 digs for the Sea-Hawks and setter Beth Forsey had 42 set assists.

Replying for the X-Women was veteran hitter Catherine Thornton who recorded a match-high 18 kills, along with 15 digs, three service aces and one block as she scored 22 points in the match. Katherine Ryan continued her consistent play for the X-Women with 11 kills, 14 digs and one block for 12 points. Both Ryan and Thornton were named AUS all-stars this week.

Jessica Roberts and AUS all-rookie Kelsey Wolfenden each had eight kills for the X-Women in the losing effort. Wolfenden also had four service aces in the game and seven digs for 13 points, while Roberts had one ace and two blocks as she scored 11 points. Fourth year setter Heather Isenor contributed 41 set assists, two service aces and eight digs for the X-Women in her final game for the blue and white. Libero Maria Dunphy had 11 digs.

The Sea-Hawks AUS semi-final match up against the Tigers is scheduled for 7:00 pm tonight in Moncton. It will be preceded by the Huskies and Aigles Bleues semi-final at 4:30 pm. The championship game is slated for Sunday at 2:00 pm with the winner moving on to represent the AUS conference at the CIS national championship March 2-4 at McMaster University.