The Holland Hurricanes volleyball teams are in Sackville, New Brunswick this weekend for the 2020 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) men’s and women’s volleyball championships hosted by the Mount Allison University Mounties. 

The action begins on Friday, however the ‘Canes do not play until the semi-finals on Saturday.  The women take the court at 12pm versus the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils after they advanced with a quarter-final victory on Friday over the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics; the men will face the University of New Brunswick-Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves at 7pm.

The Hurricanes women enter the tournament looking to break through and win their first ever ACAA title having won silver in four of the last five years. The ‘Canes finished the season undefeated going 18-0 and in first place.

The ‘Canes defeated the UKC Blue Devils in both matches during the regular season, each won in straight-sets.

As a team, the ‘Canes led the ACAA in kills per set (10.10), assists per set (9.47), service aces per set (4.93) and sit second in blocks per set (1.42).

Individually, Abby Hyndman and Sam Gerbig sit second and third in the conference in kills per set at 3.1 and 2.78 respectively. Marissa Macaulay leads the conference in assists per set at 7.87 and is third in service aces per set at 0.87. Gerbig leads the conference in service aces per set at 1.26 with Kateia Barenaba right behind at 1.02. 

The men enter the tournament as the defending champions having won the title on their home court last season. The ‘Canes finished the 2019-20 regular season in second place with a 7-8 record and will take on the third-ranked, 6-9, Seawolves with a berth to the conference championship game on the line.

The ‘Canes went 3-2 against the Seawolves during the regular season with the home team winning every game.

As a team, the ‘Canes lead the conference in blocks per set (1.94) and sit in second in kills per set (10.22), assists per set (9.83), service aces per set (1.78), and digs per set (10.95).

Individually for the ‘Canes, Gordon Veitch is fifth in the ACAA in kills per set (2.75) with Cole Mackey (2.16) and Simon Archibald (2.12) in seventh and eighth respectively. Mackey also sits in third in services aces per set (0.49) and seventh in digs per set (1.84).

Sunday’s ACAA Championship games are scheduled for 12pm (women) and 2:30pm (men).

On Friday the ‘Canes were recognized at the annual ACAA volleyball awards banquet, with five ‘Canes taking home awards.

Marissa Macaulay was the big winner, being named the ACAA Player of the Year and to the 1^st All-Conference team.

Macaulay, a third-year setter in her first year with the ‘Canes, led the conference this season with 7.87 assists per set; she also finished third in the ACAA with 0.87 service aces per set.

The 5’7”, Practical Nursing student from Truro, NS also led the ‘Canes with 425 assists.

Another big winner on Friday night was Dana Trainor, the ACAA Libero of the Year, plus a member of the 1^st All-Conference team.

Trainor, a fifth-year player from Charlottetown, PEI studying in the Dental Assisting program, led the ACAA with 3.89 digs per set, and finished third with 183 total digs.

The Hurricanes women had two other All-Conference players, Abby Hyndman being named to the first team and Sam Gerbig being named to the second team.

On the men’s team, Gordon Veitch was recognized and named to the men’s ACAA All-Conference team.

All of this weekend’s action from the ACAA Volleyball Championships can be viewed at www.acaatv.ca.

For more information on the championship, including results, stats, schedules, award winners and photos, visit www.acaa.ca.

Connect with the volleyball Hurricanes by visiting www.twitter.com/caneswvball and www.twitter.com/canesmvball.

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

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