By Reegan MacAulay

The Holland Hurricanes returned to winter season action this past weekend with several intense Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) volleyball and basketball games. From multiple wins at home to an incredible comeback victory in overtime in New Brunswick, the ‘Canes experienced an entertaining beginning to the second half of the winter season. 

Here’s a full breakdown of all your recent ‘Canes action.

Women’s Volleyball

The women’s volleyball team entertained fans with two exciting matches at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown on Saturday and Sunday, keeping one team winless and fighting a hard effort against the conference’s best team.

On Saturday, Jan. 13, the ‘Canes kept the last-place Universite de Saint-Anne (USTA) Dragons winless with a 3-1 win, but it wasn’t an easy task.

The match was back and forth from the beginning, with USTA leading 8-7 at one point. A monstrous run by Holland led to two USTA timeouts and gave the team a 20-13 lead, eventually hanging on for a 25-18 first set win. The ‘Canes piled on more domination in the second set, with multiple big leads (7-3, 17-8, 21-9) forcing more USTA timeouts. USTA had slight momentum coming to the finish, but Holland held on 25-15 for the second set win.

The momentum slowed in the third set as USTA gained a 10-7 lead. After a quick comeback by Holland, USTA called a timeout and retook the lead, dominating the rest of the way through two Holland timeouts and keeping spirits high with a 25-20 third-set win.

The fourth set was as entertaining as ever with USTA having momentum for a potential upset. USTA took a 7-4 lead, forcing a Holland timeout, which led to the ‘Canes tying the game, but not for long. Both teams exchanged points until a 23-22 Holland lead forced a USTA timeout. Despite USTA’s strong defense, Holland’s last effort proved better, sealing the deal with a 25-23 match win.

The Dragons fell to 0-9 with the loss.

On Sunday, Jan. 14, the ‘Canes faced a big challenge with the league-leading University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils in town.

Both teams exchanged points for most of the first set, with Holland jumping out to an 8-5 lead. A UKC timeout wouldn’t change much as Holland’s momentum continued towards a 15-10 lead, forcing another UKC timeout. Again, no change, as Holland held on for a 25-19 set win and took a 1-0 game lead.

The ‘Canes jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the second set. After several timeouts, UKC closed the gap to two points. With a 23-21 lead, the 'Canes called a timeout. In unbelievable fashion, UKC surprised Holland to tie the set score 24-24, and after another ‘Canes timeout, UKC barely held on 28-26 to win the set.

The game remained intense in the third set as both teams refused to bow down. Holland had better momentum in the early stages, keeping two-to-three-point leads on average. With Holland leading 18-14, UKC called a timeout. It took some time, but UKC eventually took the lead 23-22, forcing a ‘Canes timeout. It wouldn’t do much as UKC held on 25-23, taking the game lead 2-1.

UKC had a ferocious start to the fourth set, leading 8-1. Not too long later, Holland rallied to make the set a one-point score at 11-10, forcing a UKC timeout. UKC extended their lead to 16-11, forcing a ‘Canes timeout. Unfortunately, Holland’s early-game momentum never saw a return, as UKC held on to win the set 25-15, and the game 3-1.

Morgan White led the ‘Canes with an overall 21 kills throughout the weekend, while Jenna O’Neill scored an overall 27 digs. Charlotte Sweetapple and Jaqui Jubinville made their ‘Canes debuts, with Sweetapple scoring an overall nine kills and nine digs, and Jubinville scoring one kill and 20 digs.

The team is now 6-5 and currently sits fourth in the conference, four points behind Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU). The team returns to action next weekend on Saturday, Jan. 20 with a visit to Saint John, N.B. to play the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves, who are 3-8 and are tied for seventh in the conference. Game time is at 1 p.m.

The ‘Canes next home game is on Saturday, February 3 at 2pm when they host the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies in Charlottetown.

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 exchanged one win and one loss with the league-leading USTA Dragons in a wicked home-game doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 13 and Sunday, Jan. 14.

On Saturday, both teams were quick to swap points in the first set, with Holland jumping out to 10-7 and 12-8 leads, forcing a USTA timeout. The timeout gave energy to USTA, who scored four points and forced a Hurricanes timeout with a 13-12 lead. Holland stole the energy and jumped to a 20-15 lead, forcing another USTA timeout. Each team found themselves tied 25-25 at the end, but Holland was swift to seal the deal 27-25.

In the second set, Holland came out of the gates on fire, leading 7-5 and forcing another USTA timeout, which helped USTA to tie the game at 12. After more back and forth action, each team was tied at 21, and Holland called a timeout, but nothing changed as the score was then tied at 24. After another USTA timeout, the Dragons pulled away to win the set 29-27, tying the game 1-1.

The third set had a similar start, but USTA eventually had a 17-14 lead. That didn’t last long as Holland cut the lead to one at 21-20, forcing a USTA timeout. A 23-23 tie led to yet another timeout and USTA quickly ended the set with a 25-23 win, taking a 2-1 game lead.

The fourth set saw USTA take a turn at having a fiery start, jumping out to a 5-2 lead and forcing a ‘Canes timeout. Holland fired back to tie the set 8-8, but USTA regained the lead 10-8 and extended it to 18-14, forcing another ‘Canes timeout. Holland failed to find momentum, losing the set 25-23 and the game 3-1.

With the win, the USTA Dragons improved to 8-1.

On Sunday, Holland had a similar start to Saturday’s game, maintaining consistent leads in the first set. That was until Holland’s 24-19 lead was nearly stolen, but the ‘Canes luckily held on 25-23. In the second set, it’s as if the close call never happened as Holland kept consistent and won 25-18. In the third set, it looked as though Holland had the momentum to sweep the sets. USTA wouldn’t allow that as, after a timeout thanks to a 17-13 Holland lead, the team rallied to come back and win 25-22.

USTA’s rally to keep the game alive was cut short thanks to a fourth set dominated by Holland. Despite calling a timeout while down 22-9, the game was easily in Holland’s hands, and the ‘Canes won the game 3-1 after a fourth-set win of 25-12, handing USTA just their second loss all season.

Carson Gray had a fantastic weekend with an overall 31 kills and 12 digs, while Izumo Ueda had an overall 25 kills and 17 digs. Several players made their ‘Canes debuts, including Landen Allen and Erhomo Iroriteraye.

The team is now 5-4 and maintains second place in the conference, now six points behind the 8-2 Dragons. Holland returns to action next weekend on Saturday, Jan. 20, joining the women’s volleyball team in Saint John to play the UNBSJ Seawolves, who are 4-5 and currently sit tied for third in the conference.  Game time ist 3 p.m.

The next home game for the ‘Canes takes place on February 3 at 4pm versus the STU Tommies.

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 started the weekend rough but finished strong in its return to ACAA action on Friday, Jan. 12 and Sunday, Jan. 14.

On Friday, the ‘Canes welcomed the Mount Allison Mounties to the McMillan Centre, who were ready to play right from the beginning.

The Mounties quickly jumped to a 6-0 lead and finished the first quarter with a seven-point run, leading 27-11. Mount Allison’s momentum continued with a 47-24 lead after the second quarter. The ‘Canes found some life in the third and fourth quarters, closing the gap to as close as 12 points. But the Mounties never looked back, winning the game 74-58.

The Mounties improved to 7-2 with the win.

On Sunday, the ‘Canes ventured to Moncton, N.B. to face the winless Crandall University Chargers and made sure ‘winless’ stayed in Crandall’s dictionary.

The first quarter saw close action with Holland leading 28-21 at the end, but for the next two quarters, the team never gave Crandall a break, leading 66-36 at the end of the third. The Chargers scored just one less point than Holland in the fourth and final quarter, but that had nothing against Holland’s big lead, which was 79-48 at the end, the final score.

Amy Plaggenhoef and Alexa Rancourt both had strong starts to the second half; Plaggenhoef scored an overall 48 points throughout the weekend, while Rancourt scored 31. Robyne Driscoll also performed well with an overall 22 points.

The team is now 5-6 and maintains fourth place in the conference, now four points behind Mount Allison, whiel Crandall fell to 0-8. Holland returns to action next weekend with a game at the McMillan Centre on Sunday, Jan. 21 against the UKC Blue Devils, who are 8-1 and currently sit second place in the conference. 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 experienced a return for the ages with a win at home and an unbelievable comeback victory in overtime on the road this past weekend.

On Friday, Jan. 12, Holland was visited by the Mount Allison Mounties, and the game certainly didn’t disappoint for ‘Canes fans.

The game saw action from beginning to end, with the ‘Canes jumping out to an early 12-3 lead, ending the first quarter with an 18-11 lead. Mount Allison surged back to tie the game 37-37 by the end of the second quarter. The Mounties took their only lead of the game 39-37 to begin the third quarter, but from there, Holland came back and held the advantage for the rest of the game. Into the fourth quarter was a 16-point lead, and at the end of it was a final score of 87-78. Notably, Bryce Corless scored 24 of his 30 points in the second half.

With the loss, the Mounties fell to 3-6.

On Sunday, Jan. 14, the team joined the women’s basketball team in Moncton to play the Crandall University Chargers, and the game was a complete stunner, featuring 45 personal fouls and multiple ejections.

Crandall had the advantage for the entire first half, leading 25-11 after the first quarter and 39-35 after the second quarter. Midway through the third quarter, the ‘Canes overcame a 19-point deficit, and at the end of the fourth quarter, both teams were tied 77-77. In overtime, Bryce Corless drew a foul in the dying seconds and was awarded three free-throws, making two of them and leading Holland to an emotional 86-85 win.

Corless’ performances over the weekend will be one to remember, as he scored an overall 53 points. Diangelo Woodside scored 38, and rookies Topaz Kana and Zachary Dawkins impressed in their ‘Canes debuts; Kana scored 18 and Dawkins scored 23.

The team is now 5-6 and is now tied for third in the conference with Crandall, each team having 10 points. Holland returns to action next weekend with a game at the McMillan Centre on Sunday, Jan. 21 against the UKC Blue Devils, who are winless after nine games and currently sit seventh in the conference. Game time is at 4 p.m.

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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