By Reegan MacAulay
The Holland Hurricanes keep busy for another weekend, with the volleyball and basketball teams on the court both at home and on the road, and the cross country program preparing to stand out in national competition.
Here’s everything you need to know for the Holland Hurricanes in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action on Saturday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 9.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes will head on the road to Moncton, N.B., on Saturday, to visit the Crandall University Chargers (1-2), and then return home on Sunday to host the defending champions, the Mount Allison Mounties, at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement.
After starting the 2025-26 season with back-to-back losses against UNBSJ and STU, and then claiming their first win in straight sets against UKC, Holland looks to build a winning streak across a busy November. Both of their games this weekend will be their first against Crandall and Mount Allison this season.
Like the Hurricanes, the Chargers are also 1-2 to begin the campaign, losing to Dalhousie and splitting a home-game doubleheader against UNBSJ. The Mounties are 2-1, having been swept by UKC to start things off and then bouncing back with wins against Dalhousie and STU.
Game start times: Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at acaa.tv / Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at www.youtube.com/@gocanesgo
Players To Keep An Eye On…
Jenna O’Neill (fifth-year left-side, Cornwall, P.E.I.) - The most recent Hurricanes Female Athlete of the Week recorded 22 kills and added four aces, one block, and 17 digs across two games last weekend.
Maria Moores (third-year outside hitter, Conception Bay South, NL) - The former Hurricanes Female Athlete of the Week showcased fantastic versatility last weekend, shining both offensively and defensively with 14 kills, one assist, and three digs.
Marissa O’Donnell (second-year setter, Fredericton, N.B.) - Has been an elite driving force for Holland’s offense thus far, notably logging 50 assists during the previous weekend.
Connect with the women’s volleyball Hurricanes at www.x.com/caneswvball and www.instagram.com/caneswvball.
Men’s Volleyball
The men’s volleyball Hurricanes are also set to face the Crandall Chargers this weekend, but will instead play a doubleheader against them on Saturday and Sunday in Moncton, N.B.
It’s been a back-and-forth start for Holland thus far, having split their season-opening and home-opening doubleheaders within the previous two weekends. They’re coming off a rivalry one at home against STU and now have their sights set on a successful invasion at Crandall University.
The Chargers are 3-1 to begin the season, having won twice against Dalhousie on the road and then splitting a doubleheader against UNBSJ at home last weekend.
Game start times: Saturday at 4:00 p.m. / Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Live streams at acaa.tv.
Players To Keep An Eye On…
Carson Gray (fourth-year left-side, Stratford, P.E.I.) - Tallied 23 kills, 17 digs, and two blocks across two games against STU last weekend.
Nathan Baker (fifth-year outside hitter, Clarenville, NL) - A Canadore College transfer who has had a strong start to his first tenure with the Hurricanes. After four games, he’s registered 23 kills, two assists, eight aces, and 18 digs.
Brett Macausland (third-year middle, Summerside, P.E.I.) - Already on pace for a career-best season, having put up 36 kills, six assists, three aces, and 12 digs after four games.
Connect with the men’s volleyball Hurricanes at www.x.com/canesmvball and www.instagram.com/canesmvball.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball Hurricanes vie to keep their season-opening winning surge rolling when they head to Halifax, N.S., on Saturday to take on the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics.
Coming off two close statement victories against Crandall and Mount Allison to get the campaign underway, the young and rebuilding squad has a big challenge ahead of them this weekend – a 2024-25 ACAA Women’s Basketball Championship rematch. Last March, Holland came 10 points short of a fourth ACAA championship against MSVU.
This challenge’s biggest fun fact? Both teams are 2-0; therefore, only one can emerge as the conference’s only remaining unbeaten team.
The Mystics’ two road-game victories last weekend also came with tight results, so this Saturday’s contest could be the closest yet, especially considering how much of an off-season overhaul both teams experienced.
Game start time: Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at acaa.tv
Players To Keep An Eye On…
Nykeva Brown (second-year shooting guard, Halifax, N.S.) - The reigning ACAA Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year totalled 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals across the team’s two season-opening affairs. Also went 13-for-28 in field goal attempts and 6-for-13 in free-throw attempts. She is currently the team’s top points scorer and second in the conference.
Nevaeh O’Connell (second-year guard, Beechville, N.S.) - The Cape Breton University transfer impressed in her Hurricanes weekend debut, achieving 29 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals across two games. Also went 11-for-30 in field-goal attempts and 5-for-13 in three-pointer attempts. She is fourth in conference point-scoring.
Nadia Barrington (rookie guard, Truro, N.S.) - Recorded 16 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and one block across her two debut games, along with a 4-for-11 field-goal record and an 8-for-11 free-throw record.
Connect with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswbball and
www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball Hurricanes will join the women on Saturday in Halifax to challenge the men’s MSVU Mystics.
The men’s squad also experienced narrow results to begin the season, except theirs were far closer and could’ve gone either way in the dying seconds. With one win and one loss in hand, the Hurricanes now eye a commanding visit to the court of the reigning ACAA Championship runner-ups, who are winless after two games.
MSVU’s season-opening weekend included a 108-93 loss against STU and a 104-88 loss against UNBSJ. The experienced group has an opportunity this Saturday to prove that those results were flukes, and it comes in their first home games this season.
Players To Keep An Eye On…
Zachary Dawkins (fourth-year guard, Edmonton, Alberta) - The most recent Hurricanes Male Athlete of the Week had a great start to his third Hurricanes campaign, scoring 43 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks across his team’s two campaign-starting games. He earned AOTW honours for his clutch performance in the 84-81 victory against Mount Allison, and is third in the conference in points.
Spencer Rossiter (fourth-year guard/forward, Summerside, P.E.I.) - The team’s current points leader following the season-opening weekend. Against Crandall and Mount Allison, he tallied 47 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and one steal, on top of a 16-for-38 field-goal record, 9-for-21 three-pointer record, and a 6-for-8 free-throw record. He is also second in the conference in points.
Owen Parsons (third-year center, Hebbville, N.S.) - After a seven-point, 3-for-6 field goal outing in the 100-99 loss against Crandall, Parsons erupted for 24 points, a 10-for-13 field-goal record, and a perfect 3-for-3 in three-pointers in the win against Mount Allison.
Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes at www.x.com/canesmbball and
www.instagram.co/hurricanesbball.
Cross Country Running
The CCAA Cross Country National Championships have finally arrived, and the cross-country Hurricanes are ready to cap off the season with their best performances on a national stage.
Hosted by the Hurricanes this weekend at the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park in Brookvale, P.E.I., the best of the best in cross-country running across Canada will come together on Prince Edward Island and fight for national supremacy.
After team registration, photos, and course practice sessions on Friday, Nov. 7, the running action gets underway on Saturday, Nov. 8. The course will open for warmups at 10 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 11 a.m., followed by the female and men’s races.
The women will do their 6km dash at 12:30 p.m., with the men following suit for their 8km finale at 1:30 p.m. Awards and closing ceremonies are expected around 3:00 p.m.
Connect with the cross-country Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/hurricanesxc.
Women’s Soccer
While the women’s soccer Hurricanes’ season concluded in late October, we would like to congratulate second-year midfielder Karissa George (New Glasgow, N.S.) on being named a 2025 CCAA Women’s Soccer All-Canadian!
Connect with the women’s soccer Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer and www.x.com/caneswsoccer.
Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes,www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
140 Weymouth Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4Z1
Tel: 1-800-446-5265 | Fax: 902-629-4239
