By Reegan MacAulay
The Holland Hurricanes had a solid start to November, highlighted by a perfect weekend for women’s basketball, intense home-opening volleyball matches at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement, and special recognition for numerous women’s rugby players.
Here’s everything that went down for the Hurricanes in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) and Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) competition on Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes went 1-1 over the past weekend, with a home-opening loss against the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies on Saturday and a clean sweep on the road against the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils on Sunday.
Saturday’s game, at the McMillan Centre, was a wild contest that required a fifth set. While Holland won two of the first three, a close fourth-set victory for the Tommies turned the momentum in their favour, which they used to claim the game with a 15-7 fifth-set victory.
Third-year outside hitter Maria Moores (Conception Bay South, NL) performed strongly, logging nine kills, 10 digs, and six blocks. Fifth-year left-side Jenna O’Neill (Cornwall, P.E.I.) led the team with 14 kills, while second-year setter Marissa O’Donnell (Fredericton, N.B.) had 29 assists.
On Sunday, in Halifax, N.S., the Hurricanes couldn’t have asked for a better bounce-back, taking down the Blue Devils in three sets. UKC put up a strong challenge, but once Holland gained a 2-0 game lead, they had run out of fuel, allowing the Hurricanes to dominate and win the third and final set 25-13.
Moores, O’Neill, and fourth-year right-side Charlotte Sweetapple (Corner Brook, NL) each scored five kills. O’Donnell achieved 21 assists, and O’Neill led in digs with 12.
After the weekend, Holland sits at 1-2, while the Tommies are 2-2, and the Blue Devils are 1-3.
The Hurricanes will do another away-and-home split next weekend, visiting the Crandall University Chargers on Saturday, Nov. 8, in Moncton, N.B., and hosting the Mount Allison Mounties on Sunday, Nov. 9.
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 split their home-opening doubleheader against the STU Tommies on Saturday and Sunday at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement.
On Saturday, the match began with a back-and-forth affair, with each team exchanging tight set victories. Holland took the first and third sets, while STU captured the second. In the fourth and final set, the Tommies held an early advantage, but the Hurricanes eventually went on an offensive surge, particularly helped by crucial substitutions. A successful clutch performance earned them a 25-18 set victory and overall game win.
Fourth-year left-side Carson Gray (Stratford, P.E.I.) tallied 16 kills, eight digs, and one block. Fourth-year setter Tyler McBride (Oakville, Ontario) added 27 assists, and second-year libero Connor Daniels (Adelaide, South Australia) contributed 12 digs.
On Sunday, STU found perfect redemption, bringing the brooms out for a three-set triumph. They came in clutch late in the first set with four consecutive points for a 25-19 set win. In the second set, Holland jumped to a 5-0 lead and even went up 9-3, but it wouldn’t take long for STU to strike back. The set came down to the wire, with two STU kills sealing the deal for a 2-0 game lead.
The third set was neck-and-neck for a while, but ultimately turned into a replica of the first set, as the Tommies rose to the occasion when it mattered the most, going on a 7-2 run to close out the set and the game.
Gray led the way for the Hurricanes again with seven kills, nine digs, and one block, while McBride racked up 13 assists. Third-year middle Brett Macausland (Summerside, P.E.I.) achieved five kills.
Coming out of the weekend, Holland is 2-2 and STU is 3-1. The Hurricanes will be on the road for the next two weekends, beginning with a road trip to Moncton, N.B., on Nov. 8-9, to challenge the Crandall Chargers.
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 had a fantastic start to their 2025-26 campaign, notching two season-opening victories on the road against the Crandall Chargers and Mount Allison Mounties.
On Saturday, in Moncton, N.B., Holland came out swinging in the first quarter, leading 28-12 after the first 10 minutes. Crandall started to slowly close the gap over the next two quarters, being down by seven (54-47) going into the final 10 minutes. Despite a stellar effort in the fourth and final quarter, the Chargers couldn’t gain any more ground, ultimately falling short to the Hurricanes 77-64.
Second-year shooting guard and reigning ACAA Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year Nykeva Brown (Halifax, N.S.) had an excellent start to her sophomore campaign, going 8-for-13 on field-goal attempts and registering 18 points. Second-year guard Nevaeh O’Connell (Beechville, N.S.) went 6-for-15 and added 14 points, while third-year center Ava Dormer (Annapolis Royal, N.S.) went 5-for-11 with 13 points.
On Sunday, in Sackville, N.B., the Hurricanes rebounded from a rough start to steal the game in the second half, capitalizing on reliable depth and stout defensive pressure. Down 20-10 after the first set, they progressively reeled the Mounties back into their grasp, eventually taking the game lead in the fourth and final quarter and hanging on in the dying minutes for a 71-64 win.
O’Connell led the Hurricanes with 15 points and was successful on five of 15 field-goal attempts. Brown scored 14 points and also went 5-for-15, while second-year guard Karissa George (New Glasgow, N.S.) chipped in a 5-for-13 record and 13 points.
At the start of the new week, Holland is 2-0, and both Crandall and Mount Allison are 0-1.
The Hurricanes will head on the road again next Saturday, Oct. 8, with their first trip to Nova Scotia coming against the MSVU Mystics in Halifax.
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 began their 2025-26 campaign with two nail-biting games on the road, being edged by the Crandall Chargers by one point and narrowly defeating the Mount Allison Mounties by three points.
On Saturday, in Moncton, N.B., the Chargers came out swinging, taking 12-2 and 18-4 leads just before the first quarter’s halfway mark. Holland cut the deficit to five by the end of the quarter and would keep things close and even lead at times through the second and third quarters.
The fourth and final quarter was a roller coaster, with Crandall eventually pulling ahead by nine points with 2:32 remaining. Then, Holland gathered steam and went on an eight-point run, resulting in a 99-99 tie with 43 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, a free throw by Crandall just seconds later sealed the deal for a 100-99 Chargers victory.
Fourth-year guards Spencer Rossiter (Summerside, P.E.I.) and Zachary Dawkins (Edmonton, Alberta) each stood out for Holland, combining for 22 field goals on 49 attempts and 63 points.
On Sunday, in Sackville, N.B., the Hurricanes had a brilliant start against the Mounties, jumping to 13-3 and 20-9 leads in the first quarter. While the Mounties quickly narrowed the margin to one point, a Hurricanes three-point jump shot gave them a 25-21 lead going into the second quarter, where they extended their lead further and were up 50-38 after the first half.
In the third and fourth quarters, Mount Allison flipped the switch and staged a gutsy comeback effort, making it a tie game with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. After a full timeout by Holland, the Hurricanes reseized control of the play, hanging on for an 84-81 game win.
This match saw third-year center Owen Parsons (Hebbville, N.S.) lead the Hurricanes with 24 points and post a 10-for-13 field-goal record. Rossiter, Dawkins, fourth-year guard Dorrell Bedminster (Hamilton, Ontario), and rookie forward Jahreal Tomlinson (Ajax, Ontario) combined for 50 points.
Following the weekend, Holland is 1-1, Crandall is 2-0, and Mount Allison is 0-2.
The men will join the women in Halifax, N.S., next Saturday, Nov. 8, to take on the MSVU Mystics.
Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes at www.x.com/canesmbball and
www.instagram.co/hurricanesbball.
Women’s Hockey
The women’s hockey Hurricanes remain winless after two close defeats against the Acadia University Axewomen in their home-opening doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
On Saturday, the Axewomen got off to a hot start, scoring twice within 51 seconds just before the first period’s halfway mark, with goals by Grace Henderson and Gabrielle Daly. They would extend their lead to 3-0 at 9:08 of the second period, courtesy of Sophie Oliver.
Holland found the score sheet with 2:47 left in the second, as third-year forward Kristyn Taylor (Travellers Rest, P.E.I.) scored a highlight-reel goal – her first of the season featured her speeding into the offensive zone, deking the puck underneath a defender’s legs, skating toward the net all alone, falling flat to the ice, and still managing to slide a one-handed backhand shot past the sprawled Axewomen goaltender, Julia Britton.
A Jorja Hambly goal for Acadia at 8:28 of the third prevented Holland from assembling a comeback. They scored one more, with second-year forward Cassie Gordon (Murray Harbour, P.E.I.) recording her fourth goal of the season with 1:03 remaining. Fifth-year goaltender Emma Arsenault (Searletown, P.E.I.) started in net and denied 24 of 28 shots in the team’s 4-2 loss.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes were first to score, showing an improved offensive effort after lacking firepower the previous day. Their fiery start was highlighted by a first-career ACHA goal for rookie defenseman Sarah-Beth Murphy (Searletown, P.E.I.) at 1:49, who wired a shot from the blue line that found its way through traffic and over goaltender Emily Ritchot.
While Holland controlled most of the play from start to finish, generated many opportunities, and had several power plays, Ritchot was red-hot and unbeatable after Murphy’s goal, stopping 35 of 36 total shots. Jenni Simpson tied the game for Acadia at 11:11 of the first period. A bar-down goal by Dahlia Dawe at 3:59 of the second would ultimately be the game-winner. Rookie goaltender Olivia Lowe (Murray River, P.E.I.) went 22-for-24 in the Hurricanes' net.
Heading into their exam/holiday break, the Hurricanes now sit third in the regular-season standings with a 0-4-0 record. Acadia’s two season-opening victories have them tied with the CBU Capers for the league lead.
The Hurricanes will return to ACHA regular-season competition in Jan. 2026, hosting the Capers on home ice on the weekend of Jan. 17-18.
Connect with the women’s hockey Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/caneswhockey, www.facebook.com/caneswhky, and www.x.com/caneswhockey.
Women’s Rugby
While the women’s rugby Hurricanes’ season is completed, we would like to acknowledge five players who were recently named to the 2025-26 ACAA Women’s Rugby All-Conference Team.
Congratulations to rookie back row Hannah Whalen (Vernon Bridge, P.E.I.), third-year prop/back row Jaymen Rusk (Long Creek, P.E.I.), fourth-year centre Erin Robertson (Souris, P.E.I.), third-year centre Annik Whiten (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), and third-year scrum half Bri Hughes (Shamrock, P.E.I.)!
Connect with the women’s rugby Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanesrugby.
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
