By Noel Arnason
With both basketball teams set to open their seasons this weekend, the Holland Hurricanes will have four indoor sports teams in action as the ACAA winter season gets underway.
Still undefeated through two weekends, the Hurricanes hope to keep it that way as they head on the road for their longest road trip of the regular season to take on the USTA Dragons.
Holland currently sits first in the ACAA, while the Dragons are 0-2 and in sixth place after losing to UNBSJ and MSVU during their opening weekend.
The Hurricanes should catch USTA with fresh legs, as Holland has Saturday off while the Dragons take on the UKC Blue Devils.
Abby MacDonald still leads the league in hitting percentage and service aces, while also sitting fourth in blocks per set. Marissa O’Donnell sits second in the league in assists per set, while Maria Moores ranks second in kills per set and fourth in total kills.
The Hurricanes men’s volleyball team comes off a dominant weekend against the Dal Rams, which included two 3-0 sweeps.
This weekend, they head to USTA to play the Dragons on Saturday and Sunday. The Hurricanes currently sit first in the ACAA, while the Dragons are second-last.
Kalan Billard leads the ACAA in hitting percentage and ranks second in blocks per set. Carson Gray sits fifth in kills per set, while Zachary Warren leads the league in service aces per set and Brett MacAusland ranks fourth. Jakob Curtis is also fourth in assists per set.
The Hurricanes open their season on the road Saturday as they take on the Crandall Chargers. They return Sunday for their home opener against the UNBSJ Seawolves.
The Chargers have already played two games this season and sit in last place after losing both. The Hurricanes will look to open their season strong with a four-point weekend.
Molly Steadman returns to the Hurricanes after a year away from the team. The guard looks to have picked up right where she left off, putting up 22 points and 19 rebounds in the Hurricanes’ last pre-season game.
Sophie Leclair has put in significant off-season work and returns poised to be a leader for Holland on and off the court.
Sara Hillman, Angel Francis Rodney and Payton Lopez are three rookies and transfers to watch who have impressed the coaching staff during the pre-season.
The Hurricanes men’s basketball season opens this weekend as they hit the road Saturday to play the Crandall Chargers before returning home Sunday for their home opener against the UNBSJ Seawolves.
Last year in the playoffs, Holland lost in the quarter-finals to the Chargers and will look to open its season strong and avenge that playoff loss.
The Hurricanes welcome back two of their key players after both spent a year away from the team. Michael Surur and James Mullet are expected to play key roles in the team's success this season.
Big man Owen Parsons also returns and looks to cause plenty of trouble for opposing teams around the net.
Second-years Fabian Colley, Jesse Dalrymple, Khaliyl Smith and Va’shon Ford, along with third-year Jahson Tomlinson, have all shown significant growth during training camp, and the coaching staff has high expectations for the group this season.
The Hurricanes have also added two new players to the roster. Kaymon Grouse joins the team from Halifax, while Igor Stolarz arrives from Poland. Both are expected to play pivotal roles this season as the Hurricanes look to build toward an ACAA championship.
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