Women's Volleyball Get Some Help But Struggle On The Road

There was plenty at stake heading into the weekend of play for Memorial's
Volleyball teams. The Men were staring down their final games of the year as
the team was setting up to honour fifth year workhorse Alex Barrett. The women
had to hit the road where they have struggled mightily. However the news was
not all bad as the women did get some help from teams ahead of them in the
standings.

Women's Volleyball

The Women's volleyball team hit the road for the final time this season for a
tilt for third ranked Saint Mary's Huskies. Heading into the match the Girls
were aware that they had some breathing room as Acadia had already lost its two weekend matches before they played their first. The teams traded the first two sets as the Sea~Hawks stormed back from a 25-22 loss in the first to take the second set 25-21. In the third set the Sea~Hawks fell behind and could not
recover losing 25-19 and then the experienced Huskies won in the fourth 25-22.

In Sunday's return match the Sea~Hawks who have dropped six of the seven road matches pushed on their opponents in a fast paced match where the margin of error was so minuscule that the women were swept back to St. John's losing in straight sets Sunday 25-19, 25-21, and 25-17. The Sea~Hawks return home next weekend where they will face the University of Moncton in a must win situation as they need just one win in their final two games to punch a ticket to the AUS playoffs for the first time in five years. The games will also be the last for Setter Beth Forsey as the Commerce student is set to graduate in the spring.

Fans are encouraged to pack the Field House next Saturday at 7:00pm to help
cheer the Sea~Hawks to victory as they look to book their flights for the
playoffs.

Men's Volleyball

The Men's volleyball team put the finishing touches on their season as they
hosted the Dalhousie Tigers. The games were an opportunity for the team to send fifth year Alex Barrett into retirement with a win. On Saturday Sea~Hawks were up to the task of defending their home court trading point for point with the Tigers before a series of passing errors led to the Tigers creating quick
separation and taking the first set 25-17. During the final two sets the men
struggled to match the skill and intensity of their opponents as they lost track of their game plan dropping each of the next two sets 25-16 and 25-15. The Sea~Hawks appeared deflated as the Tigers took advantage of every opportunity that 20 errors can provide. The Tigers played like a team who needed to sweep the home team this weekend, two wins would give them a shot at knocking UNB out of first place in the AUS in the final weekend of play.

On Sunday the two teams set up for the final game of Alex Barrett's career. For
the second game in a row the Sea~Hawks fans came out to honour Barrett who took the microphone prior to the match. Along with thanking his fans and teammates Alex took some time to thank his parents and received a wonderful applause when he turned to his head coach Luke Harris and thanked him for the time and effort that Harris has shown him as a player. Barrett thanked his coach for the opportunity to play for Memorial and in typical Barrett fashion he embraced his coach and joined his teammates as they prepared for their match.

The match was a spirited effort by the Sea~Hawks as the home team played with
greater skill and intensity. In fact the two teams fun intensity that was evident to the fans from the opening serve and not unlike what the men showed through the first half of the season and during their Christmas run. In the first set Dalhousie capitalized on a couple key errors to win 25-21. In the next two sets the game featured some great rallies that gave fans a glimpse of how much closer the Sea~Hawks are to contending for postseason play. The men eventually bowed out 25-18 and 25-16 in the third and final set. Alex Barrett was named Memorial Player of the game and will undoubtedly turn his attention to helping his teammates get ready for next season.

After a quieter weekend business picks up for the remaining Sea~Hawks teams next weekend. The Swim team heads into Halifax for the AUS Championships with only one CIS qualifier so far, Coach Brad Hutton is hoping to have David Forbes join the Leah Tomblin who is nursing a broken rib. Memorial's wrestlers head into Fredericton for the CIS Qualifying meet as Coach Kerri Ann Evely is looking to have her team best the total of six who qualified last season with high hopes of some men qualifying for a national championship opportunity. Our Men's and Women's basketball teams will play two of their final six games next weekend as both teams play Saint Mary's. The men will look for the second win of the season while the women look to inch closer to the second place Huskies who are six points ahead in the race for the final playoff bye.