CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Holland College Hurricanes volleyball teams return to the court as the squads take different paths through the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) this weekend.
The women host the St. Thomas Tommies today at 2 p.m. while the men land in Church Point, N.S., for a 3 p.m. tussle with the Université de Sainte-Anne Dragons. The game had been scheduled for Sunday, but a pending winter storm pushed the game ahead a day.
Sunday, the women cap the weekend against the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics. First serve is noon at Holland College.
The women’s Hurricanes (9-3) are in second place in the ACAA standings, trailing MSVU (12-0) and leading fifth-place St. Thomas (6-8).
“We have been working on new things at practice this week,” said ‘Canes first-year left side Zayley Murphy. “We’re wanting to stay mentally focused so we’ll be ready for this weekend when it’s time to take the court.”
Holland College is 1-1 versus the Tommies this season and 0-1 against the Mystics.
Third-year middle Brittany States knows when the top two teams face each other it will be an intense matchup.
“Going up against the top team in the league is always a challenge. MSVU are a strong team that makes you earn every point and limits their mistakes,” States said. “We have worked on specific parts of our game this week to ensure we are ready this weekend for two tough matches.”
On the men’s side, the ‘Canes (3-6) sit in third place just ahead of the fourth-place Dragons (1-6). Third-year right side Jeff MacDonald said Holland College has been playing better of late including a split with the UNBSJ Seawolves last weekend.
“We played two solid games last weekend in Saint John, N.B., where we’ve shown what we’re capable of. We’re looking to bring that level of play to the court again this weekend,” MacDonald said.
Holland College leads the season series with the Dragons 2-1.
