By Reegan MacAulay
On this edition of Hurricanes Weekend Recaps, four Holland College Hurricanes squads took to their home court for some exciting matches, and a new club was introduced for the 2025-26 collegiate athletics season.
The basketball teams played in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, and the volleyball teams couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend, combining to win all four games and to lose just two of 14 total sets. Meanwhile, on the road, the newly inaugurated track and field squad had their opening meet.
Here’s how it all played out, from Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) competition on Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23, at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement in Charlottetown, P.E.I., to the running track on Saturday in Saint John, N.B.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes had their best weekend of the season thus far, taking both of their games on Saturday and Sunday in straight sets. Even better, they still have yet to lose a set in the games they win (five victories, all 3-0 scores).
On Saturday, Holland was visited by the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils, who sought to end a six-game losing streak. The Hurricanes wouldn’t allow that, dominating the entire contest and not allowing any more than 16 points against in a single set, with set scores of 25-8, 25-16, and 25-16.
On Sunday, the Dalhousie Rams also hoped to end a recent slump, having suffered three consecutive losses, albeit starting the season 5-1. Holland’s momentum from Saturday pushed onward, with another straight-set win with final set scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 25-11. In this game, the Rams made the Hurricanes work for the win, forcing them to call numerous timeouts between the first two sets.
After the weekend, Holland is 5-4, UKC is 1-7, and Dalhousie is 5-5. The Hurricanes are now in a three-way tie for fourth in the conference with Dalhousie and STU.
They will conclude the first semester at home next Saturday, Nov. 29, welcoming the league-leading UNBSJ Seawolves to town.
Power Performers (notable combined weekend stats)
Jenna O’Neill (fifth-year left-side, Cornwall, P.E.I.) - 29 points, 20 kills, 9 aces, 26 digs
Morgan Hoskins (fifth-year outside/libero, Bishop’s Falls, NL) - 20 points, 19 kills, 7 digs
Abby MacDonald (fourth-year middle, Charlottetown, P.E.I.) - 17.5 points, 12 kills, 4 blocks
Marissa O’Donnell (second-year setter, Fredericton, N.B.) - 57 assists, 7 digs, 2 blocks
Mason Babey (third-year middle, Lumsden, SK) - 18 points, 11 kills, 5 aces, 8 digs, 2 blocks
Connect with the women’s volleyball Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/caneswvball.
Men’s Volleyball
The men’s volleyball Hurricanes not only snapped a three-game skid, but they also joined the women’s team in bringing out the brooms for a doubleheader sweep, keeping the Dalhousie Rams winless to close out the first semester.
While both games featured a final score of 3-1, they were nothing short of intense and back-and-forth, and Dalhousie made their desperation for a win clear both times.
On Saturday, they had the better start, squeaking out a narrow 25-20 first-set win and preventing a comeback rally from Holland. The game’s turning point came in the middle of the second set, when Liam Galway took the brunt of a hard collision and was sidelined for the remainder of the match and the weekend, forcing the Hurricanes to reset and put together an amazing effort against adversity.
They went on to capture the next three sets in nail-biting fashion, all of which had neither team score fewer than 21 points. The fourth and final set found itself at a 24-24 tie, which then saw a Zachary Warren kill and a Nathan Baker ace seal the deal for the Hurricanes' win.
On Sunday, in a rematch that featured many timeouts from both sides, the Hurricanes had a fiery start, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first set. Dalhousie started to pick themselves back up, but would have to wait till the second set to claim glory. That set went far beyond 25 as each team exchanged points in an exciting tug-of-war battle. Ultimately, the Rams took it 32-30.
Holland rebounded in the third set, claiming it 25-19, and later survived a roller coaster of a fourth and final set that saw them go down 5-1, up 14-9, tied 17-17, and up 25-17. An eight-point run earned the Hurricanes the set and game win.
After the weekend, Holland is 5-5 and third in the conference, and Dalhousie is 0-10 and sixth (last). The Hurricanes will return to action in January 2026, opening the second semester with a home-court doubleheader against the UNBSJ Seawolves on Jan. 17 and 18.
Power Performers (notable combined weekend stats)
Carson Gray (fourth-year left-side, Stratford, P.E.I.) - 38 points, 32 kills, 2 assists, 2 aces, 17 digs, 4 blocks
Zachary Warren (rookie outside, Hanwell, N.B.) - 30 points, 26 kills, 1 assist, 4 aces, 12 digs
Tyler McBride (fourth-year setter, Oakville, ON) - 80 assists, 3 kills, 2 aces, 13 digs, 2 blocks
Brett Macausland (third-year middle, Summerside, P.E.I.) - 22.5 points, 17 kills, 4 assists, 5 aces, 6 digs
Nathan Baker (fifth-year outside hitter, Clarenville, NL) - 10 kills, 1 assist, 2 aces, 17 digs, 1 block
Gabriel Lee (rookie middle from Charlottetown, P.E.I.; played Sunday only, first career match start) - 12 points, 7 kills, 1 assist, 2 aces, 3 digs, 2 blocks
Connect with the men’s volleyball Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/canesmvball.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball Hurricanes fell short in their first home game of the season, 57-43, to the STU Tommies on Saturday.
Both teams entered the match tied for the conference lead, each with a 3-1 record. The Tommies were fast out of the gate, leaping out to a 9-0 lead. Holland called a timeout while down 9-4, eventually finding their groove in the second quarter, tying the game 25-25 and taking a 27-25 lead with 2:57 remaining till halftime. STU responded by retaking charge (32-29) at halftime.
Each squad traded leads in the third quarter until the Tommies went on an 11-point run within the final four and a half minutes. That, in addition to several turnovers and a struggling offense from Holland, helped STU pull further away en route to the game victory.
Rookie guard Nadia Barrington (Truro, N.S.) led the Hurricanes with eight points while going 3-for-9 in field goals and 2-for-4 in free throws, and adding four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks. Second-year guard Karissa George (New Glasgow, N.S.), second-year shooting guard Nykeva Brown (Halifax, N.S.), and third-year guard Mariam Elshenoufy (Cairo, Egypt) each recorded seven points.
After the weekend, Holland is 3-2 and tied for third in the conference with Mount Allison, while STU is 4-1 with a four-game winning streak, putting them in second place behind MSVU. The Hurricanes will head back on the road next Saturday, Nov. 29, to Halifax, N.S., to visit the winless UKC Blue Devils.
Connect with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball Hurricanes battled hard in their 2025-26 home opener against the STU Tommies on Saturday, but ultimately dropped it 86-82.
Entering the game, the Tommies were undefeated with four victories (three of which with 106+ points scored), while the Hurricanes hoped to gain ground in the standings and end a two-game cold streak. The match had close stats across the board, with just a few numbers separating each team in almost every category.
After swapping leads in the first quarter (18-18 at the buzzer), the Tommies returned from their locker room with slightly more offensive firepower in the second quarter, leading by seven (42-35) at halftime. Holland eventually tied the game 47-47 around halfway through the third quarter, but would falter back to being down by seven at the end.
The fourth and final quarter had everybody on the edge of their seats. STU had a 68-60 lead with 7:58 remaining when the Hurricanes called a timeout. The reset helped them regain significant momentum, and both teams played a game of mouse and cat all the way until the final minute.
Holland managed to tie things up 78-78 with 1:30 remaining, but ran into bad luck beyond that with several fouls and missed shots, allowing the Tommies to capitalize on multiple clutch free throws.
Fourth-year guard Zachary Dawkins (Edmonton, AB) led the Hurricanes with 26 points and went 10-for-22 in field goals and a perfect 4-for-4 in free throws, while also logging seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Fourth-year guard/forward Spencer Rossiter (Summerside, P.E.I.) registered 17 points, and third-year center Owen Parsons (Hebbville, N.S.) recorded 13 points.
After the weekend, Holland is 1-4, and STU is 5-0, leaving the Hurricanes sixth in the conference, and the Tommies tied for the lead with UNBSJ.
The men will join the women in Halifax, N.S., next Saturday, Nov. 29, to challenge the UKC Blue Devils.
Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes at www.instagram.co/hurricanesbball.
Track and Field
The track and field Hurricanes made their season debut in the Red & Black Open, hosted by the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds, on Saturday at the Irving Oil Field House in Saint John, N.B.
10 student-athletes competed in various events and put a strong foot forward, with some scoring personal bests and passing numerous competitive university athletes.
Nicholas Fowler participated in the men’s 60m event, placing 24th in the preliminary race, third in the heat at a time of 7.76 seconds (notably ahead of five UNB runners and one CBU runner), 20th in the final race, and second in his heat with a time of 7.77 seconds.
Emilie Doucette, the 2025-26 ACAA Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year, took part in the women’s 1500m and 3000m events. She placed third in the 1500 with a time of 5:46.08, finishing ahead of CBU. After running that, she ground out a 12:55 in the 3000m.
Benjamin Perrin ran both the men’s 600m and 1000m races. He paced Luke Potter to a 5:16 personal best in the 1500m, and then placed ninth in the 600m (1:34.94), just behind UNB’s Ian Young. Later, he came home third in the men’s 1000m (2:55.19), just behind UNB’s Ian Mclean and ahead of a UPEI Panther, Scott Davis.
Emerson Gurney placed 11th ahead of Zane Osuji of CBU in the men’s 300m with a time of 42.82, and then ran the 1000m with a time of 3:26.26, finishing sixth overall.
It was an extremely fatiguing day for all athletes, who faced many obstacles, but they all executed standout performances in an excellent first showing.
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