It was a weekend full of excitement for the Hurricanes across the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA).  The women’s volleyball Hurricanes won their second conference championship in program history, while the men fell in the finals.  Both the men’s and women’s basketball ‘Canes secured the second seed, and a bye to the semi-finals, with wins at home on Sunday.  Here is a full recap of all the action.

Women’s Volleyball

Friday | ACAA Quarter-Final – Hurricanes 3, MTA 0

The Hurricanes opened up their championship weekend in Halifax, Nova Scotia with a straight-sets win over the Mount Allison University (MTA) Mounties with set scores of 25-18, 25-14, and 25-19.

Jenna O’Neill led the offense with 11 kills with Morgan White adding six. O’Neill also had eight digs and a block while White added five aces and four digs. Ella Hickey had 20 assists, three aces, and six digs while Mason Babey added three kills, four aces, and four digs in the win.

Saturday | ACAA Semi-Final – Hurricanes 3, STU 0

The Hurricanes knocked off the second seeded St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies with another straights sets win with set scores of 25-18, 25-19, and 26-24.

Morgan White led the attack with 15 kills while also adding two aces and seven digs. Charlotte Sweetapple had seven kills, seven aces, and eight digs. Ella Hickey dished out 24 assists and recorded seven digs while Makena Marble led the defensive effort with 11 digs. Jenna O’Neill added three kills, three assists, three aces, and eight digs in the win.

Sunday ACAA Championship Match – Hurricanes 3, MSVU 1

The Hurricanes bounced back from a poor start to take home the ACAA title versus the top-seeded, Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics. Set scores were 20-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-22.

Jenna O’Neill led the attack with 10 kills with Morgan White right behind with nine. White led the defensive effort with 19 digs and added four aces while O’Neill had 14 digs and four aces.

Ella Hickey dished out 26 assists and added 5 digs, two kills and an assist. Makena Marble recorded 17 digs while Mason Babey added eight kills in the win.

Head coach, Craig Hoskins, comments on the win in his first season with the ‘Canes.

“I am very proud of this group at Holland College. The student-athletes, coaching staff, and all the behind-the-scene  staff at Holland College gave this team everything they needed to succeed this season. I want to thank everyone who supported us. It’s been a great year. This season the team set a goal at day one, and they worked so hard to achieve this goal. It was amazing how this group of young athletes adapted and thrived in the challenges they faced this year. I always believed in our group, but I did not expect to see this much team and individual growth in just one season. It's an honor to be able to work with them, and I am excited to see what these student-athletes will do in the future."

Morgan White, a second-year player from Charlottetown, PEI, shares her excitement following the championship match.

“We went through the best and worst times together, but we always found a way through it. The difference of this team from the start of the year versus now is insane, with a lot of perseverance and amazing coaching and work ethic from the girls we were able to bring the gold back to PEI!”.

Earlier in the championship, Morgan White was named to the first All-Conference team, while Ella Hickey was named to the second All-Conference team.

This is the second ACAA Championship for the Hurricanes – last winning the title in 2020.  They will now prepare for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship on March 8-11 hosted by the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners, in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The ‘Canes first matchup will take place on March 8 at 5pm Atlantic versus the Camosun College Chargers, the 2023 Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) Conference champions from British Columbia.

For more information on the ACAA Championship, visit www.acaa.ca.

For more information on the CCAA National Championship, visit www.ccaa.ca.

Connect with the women’s volleyball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswvball and www.instagram.com/caneswvball.

Men’s Volleyball

Friday | ACAA Finals Game 1 – Hurricanes 1, USTA 3

The Hurricanes dropped the first game of the best-of-three ACAA Championship Series to the Université de Sainte-Anne (USTA) Dragons by set scores of 25-16, 20-25, 25-12, 25-21.

Cameron Calhoun led the attack with 12 kills with Luke Hyde adding seven and Carson Gray with six. Calhoun added four aces and six digs while Hyde added four aces and ten digs.

Justin Rix had 21 assists while Coady Murphy had ten digs in the loss.

Saturday | ACAA Finals Game 2 – Hurricanes 0, USTA 3

The Hurricanes dropped the second game and the series by set scores of 25-19, 29-27, and 25-19.

Luke Hyde recorded a match-high 16 kills to lead the way for the ‘Canes while also adding four aces and two digs. Chase Parsons added seven kills with Cameron Calhoun adding five kills and ten digs. Justin Rix recorded 29 assists, three kills, and three digs in the loss.

Earlier in the championship, Kiefer Sinclair was named the ACAA Rookie of the Year award, while Luke Hyde, Cameron Calhoun and Sinclair was named to the ACAA All-Conference team.

The ‘Canes season has come to an end. They’ll look to retool and look to recapture the title in the 2023-24 season.

Connect with the men’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/canesmvball and www.instagram.com/canesmvball.

Women’s Basketball

Friday | Hurricanes 99, UNBSJ 75

The Hurricanes came out flying versus the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves on Friday on the road, jumping out to a 34-13 lead through one quarter. They would build their lead to 59-32 at the half, then lead 83-58 through three.

Lisa Bolander dropped 35 points to lead the way offensively. Bolander also added nine rebounds and two assists.

Sheleese Hoilett recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists. Amy Plaggenhoef had 15 points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals with Karla Benitez adding 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the win.

Sunday | Hurricanes 103, UKC 75

For the fifth time in school history and the second time this season the Hurricanes reached triple digits.

The ‘Canes started slow in their final home game versus the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils, leading 19-18 after one quarter, but would score 35 in the second to lead 54-30. They then scored 34 in the third to lead 88-47 before putting it in cruise control in the fourth.

Lisa Bolander and Karla Benitez both came close to triple-doubles with Bolander getting 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while Benitez had 19 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and five steals.

Amy Plaggenhoef added 17 points, nine rebounds, and two assists while Danielle McKinnon came off the bench to add 16 points and three rebounds. Two other Hurricanes also reached double figures with Sheleese Hoilett adding 12 and Ava Sinnott with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The ‘Canes finish the season at 14-4 and will finish in second place in the ACAA standings. They receive a bye to Saturday’s semi-final where they will face the highest remaining seed from the quarters-finals.

For more information on the 2023 ACAA Championship in Fredericton, New Brunswick, hosted by the STU Tommies, visit www.acaa.ca.

Connect with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Men’s Basketball

Friday | Hurricanes 100, UNBSJ 78

The Hurricanes led 24-19 after one over the UNBSJ Seawolves on Friday in their final road game of the season; they’d extend their lead to 49-36 at the half, and 82-56 after three.

Kyree Thompson led the way with 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while Jalen Menzies added 20 points, four rebounds, and three steals.

Jack MacAulay added 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists, with Marcellus Taliaferro adding 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Logan Rempel also reached double figures adding 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the win.

Sunday | Hurricanes 93, UKC 60

In their final home game of the season, the Hurricanes led 26-17 after one and 41-38 at the half before winning the third and fourth quarters by matching 26-11 score lines to defeat the UKC Blue Devils by 33-points.

Kyree Thompson came off the bench with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Marcellus Taliaferro had 15 points and six rebounds also off the bench.

Jalen Menzies added 14 points, three rebounds, and two steals with Logan Rempel adding 11 points and eight rebounds and Almin Dervsivic adding 10 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

The ‘Canes finish the regular season with a 13-5 record and tied for first with STU; both teams receive byes through the quarter-finals this Friday in Fredericton. The ‘Canes lost the season series 2-1 to STU and will therefore finish in second and face the highest advancing seed from the quarters.

For more information on the ACAA, visit www.acaa.ca. 

Connect with the men’s basketball ‘Canes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, please visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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