By Reegan MacAulay

Two basketball games in Saint John, New Brunswick on a Saturday afternoon and two volleyball games at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown on a Sunday afternoon highlight what’s next for the Holland Hurricanes.

Here is everything you need to know for the upcoming weekend between Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) volleyball and basketball action.

Women’s Volleyball

The women’s volleyball team will have plenty of confidence moving forward after beginning the second half of the season with promise, beating the Université de Sainte-Anne (USTA) Dragons 3-1 last Saturday, and keeping heads held high after a close 3-1 loss to the league-leading University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils last Sunday.

The team will head to Saint John on Saturday, Jan. 20 to play the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves. The Seawolves are 3-8 and tied for seventh in the conference. Recently, UNBSJ defeated Crandall 3-2 on Sunday, Jan. 14, ending a six-game losing streak and earning its first win since Nov. 12. The last time Holland played UNBSJ, Holland won 3-1 at home on Nov. 18.

Players to keep an eye on include Morgan White and Jenna O’Neill, who each had dominant returns last weekend, as White scored 21 kills in two games and O’Neill scored 27 digs; O’Neill earned the Hurricanes Female Athlete of the Week as a result. White is fifth in the conference with 101 kills and first with 1.51 service aces per set, and O’Neill is fifth with 105 digs, while Ella Hickey is first with 7.88 assists per set, and Myrah Utrosa is fifth with 0.66 blocks per set.

Charlotte Sweetapple and Jaqui Jubinville will look to use momentum from their first games of the season, with each combining for 10 kills and 29 digs in two games last weekend.

Game time is at 1 p.m. on Saturday and can be viewed live at www.acaa.tv.

Connect with the women’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswvball and www.instagram.com/caneswvball.

Men’s Volleyball

The men’s volleyball team experienced a roller coaster last weekend in an intense home-game doubleheader against the league-leading USTA Dragon, losing 3-1 and winning 3-1.

Holland will seek better consistency this weekend, joining the women’s volleyball team in Saint John on Saturday, Jan. 20 to play the UNBSJ Seawolves. The men’s Seawolves are 4-5 and currently sit tied for third in the conference. Recently, UNBSJ defeated Crandall 3-1 on Sunday, Jan. 14, ending a two-game losing streak. The last time Holland played UNBSJ, Holland won 3-2 and 3-1 in a home-game doubleheader on Nov. 18 and 19.

Players to look out for include Carson Gray and Izumo Ueda, who each combined for 56 kills and 29 digs in two games last weekend. Gray is fourth in the conference with 2.79 kills per set, fifth with 95 kills, and fourth with a .247 hitting per centage. Ueda is fourth in the conference with 101 kills and third with a .275 hitting per centage. 

There’s also Marcus Lapointe, who leads the conference with 2.38 digs per set and 81 digs, and Landen Allen and Erhomo Iroriteraye, who will continue to gain valuable experience after debuting with the ‘Canes last weekend.

Game time is at 3 p.m. on Saturday and can be viewed live at www.acaa.tv.

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

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team hopes to play better in front of ‘Canes fans at the McMillan Centre this weekend after a rough start in last Friday’s home game against the Mount Allison Mounties, who dominated Holland en route to a 74-58 win. However, Holland will have momentum thanks to a resurgent 79-48 win at Crandall University last Sunday.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the UKC Blue Devils come to Charlottetown with eight wins, one loss, and a second-place position in the conference standings. Recently, UKC defeated Mount Allison 61-52 on Sunday, Jan. 14, extending the team’s winning streak to three. The last time Holland played UKC, Holland lost 94-89 in a nail-biting game on the road on Nov. 12.

Players to have in mind going into the weekend include Amy Plaggenhoef and Alexa Rancourt, who each combined for 79 points in two games last weekend. Plaggenhoef leads the conference with 17.1 points per game, while Rancourt is tied with Lauren Armstrong for first with 10.2 rebounds per game and is first with a 55.1 field goal per centage. Molly Steadman is .2 per cent behind Rancourt with 54.9 per cent.

Fans are reminded that Sunday is Bell Let’s Talk Day for the Hurricanes, with lots of activities planned for those in attendance at the McMillan Centre. Game time is at 2 p.m.

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

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team will look to continue their hot start to the second half of the season, coming off two heated victories against Mount Allison and Crandall last weekend.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the ‘Canes will be visited by the UKC Blue Devils at the McMillan Centre, who have yet to earn a win this season. Recently, UKC lost 87-72 to Mount Allison on Sunday, Jan. 14. The last time Holland played UKC, Holland won 84-82 on the road on Nov. 12.

Everyone will be paying attention to Bryce Corless, who came in clutch last weekend with an overall 53 points in two games, which included two game-winning free throws against Crandall in overtime, giving the ‘Canes the 86-85 win, earning him the Male Athlete of the Week for the ‘Canes, and the ACAA.

Corless remains the conference leader with 234 points and is also second with 21.3 points per game. Diangelo Woodside scored 38 overall points last weekend and is currently second in the conference with eight rebounds per game and fourth with a 52.7 field goal per centage. Rookies Topaz Kana and Zachary Dawkins performed well in their ‘Canes debuts last weekend and will be looking to add crucial points this Sunday.

Game time is at 4 p.m. at the McMillan Centre on Sunday, with Bell Let’s Talk Day activities planned for those in attendance.

Connect with the men’s basketball ‘Canes at www.x.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

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

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