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Championship Season Kicks into Gear for Swimmers, Wrestlers and Volleyballers
The Nest will be rocking on Saturday night as the women's volleyball team face a win and get in scenario for the AUS playoffs. The excitement does not end at home this weekend as Memorial's Wrestling and Swim teams are enter the Championship seasons as they respectively hit the CIS qualifier in fredericton and the Subway AUS Championship in Halifax The Men's and women's basketball join the swim team in Halifax for a two game set with the Saint Mary's Huskies, The women will need a sweep to inch closer to second place and a potential post season bye into the semi-finals. Menawhile the men aim to end their losing streak and win their second straight against the Huskies.
Win and get in for Women's Volleyball
The playoffs start and could end this weekend as the Sea~Hawks must win one of their two games against the sebventh place Moncton Aigles Bleaues this weekend. the Field House will be rockingbecause only the top six teams move on to playoffs, currently MUN is ranked in 5th place and Acadia is 6th place, however since Moncton (7th) is hosting the playoffs they automatically receive the sixth place seed. To secure their position in the playoffs Memorial must win at least one of their games this weekend. The Sea~Hawks can still get in but they will have to rely on a desperate Acadia team to be swept by the STFX X-women who have already booked their tickets to the dance.
The win and get in scenario bodes well for the Sea~Hawks who are 4-0 at home this season. The veteran leaders on the team have been performing at a playoff calibre for the last couple of games as Erin Bursey and Samantha March have been all over the court while Chantel Jones has been a workhorse up front. The team has the skill to succeed in qualifying for the playoffs but they require their younger players to provide some consistency when called upon. If the passing and blocking game can continue to improve the Sea~Hawks should be booking their flights for Moncton and providing fifth year Beth Forsey a great early graduation present.
This weekend will end the regular season for the Sea~Hawks, Sunday's game will mark the end of Setter Beth Forsey's eligibility so be sure to join us in the Field House as the Sea~Hawks aim to take down the University of Moncton.
The games are scheduled for Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 11pm at home in the field house. Be sure to come and join us for a tribute to Beth Forsey on Sunday. Both games will be webcast click on the webcast logo at www.goseahawks.ca
Swim team dives into Subway AUS Championships, CIS Qualifying on the line.
There is plenty on the line for Memorial swimmers this weekend including whether or not David Forbes qualify for his fourth straight CIS Championships. Leah Tomblin will be using the meet to prepare for CIS Championships that she qualified for back in October. The powerful captain has been slowed down as of late follwing some fractured ribs which have limited her preparations in recent weeks. Injured ribs and all Coach Brad Hutton believes Leah will be in medal contention in each of the backstroke events - 50m, 100m, and 200m. Co-captain Dayna Hogan will be looking to qualify for her first CIS Championships in sprint freestyle and could be in contention for a medal in 100m free. Following the AUS meet Dayna will actually fly to Germany where she will complete her Engineering work term requirements. Coach Hutton is expecting the women to medal in the 4x100m Medley Relay, 4x100m Freestyle Relay and 4x200m Freestyle Relay –as the two veterans will be joined by rookies Jessica Noseworthy and Lindsay Denine who have shown considerable improvements since the fall.
For the men, David Forbes will lead the way with his sights set on qualifying for CIS Championships in all of his events. Watch for Forbes to be at or near the top of the podium in each of his events. The surprise of the season thus far has been Richard Hibbs who has looked very strong in his three breaststroke events and is on the cusp of CIS qualifying times heading into the final meet. Hibbs should find himself in the points in the 200m IM as his confidence is at all time high. Another veteran who has had a great year but is limping into the AUS championships is Ryan Allen. Allen had minor setback to his training with a sprained ankle due to a slip on wet stairs but the injury is healing nicely and should not prevent him from scoring points in his breaststroke and IM events.
The men's contingent will be rounded out by Rookie Peter Gregory who should reach the finals in the backstroke events and 400m IM. Matthew Avis will be racing for the finals in 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle and will be joined by Rookie Brandon Billard who will be racing in the fly events and 1500 freestyle. The team will be anchored by Mason Jeddore who is racing for the finals in the longer fly and backstroke events as the distance events are his specialty. The men's relays will be racing for medals in all three of the relay events as the team looks to move up the AUS hierarchy.
Wrestlers have sights pinned on CIS Qualifying
Following the success of the 2011 season will be a tough order to follow for Memorial's Wrestlers. However, the hard working group should be up to the task as they look to punch their tickets for the CIS Championships at the end of the month. The men's team will be led by veteran Matthew Patey who leads a group of young hungry men looking to make a name for themselves. For the women Victoria Ralph, Breanne Coady, Shannon Higdon and Myfanwy Price look to add to their resume and build upon their Qualifying experience of 2011.
The women boast a talented and experienced roster as Shannon Higdon, Myfanwy Price and Breanne Coady all look to move up the national rankings and build upon their CIS qualifying experience of last season. Carla Chaytor, Cassaundra Park, and Noelle Laite round out a tenacious roster as they look to move onto the CIS Championships.
The Men's team features a strong and athletic group with first year wrestlers David Young, Dennis Sutton, and Dustin Silvey who join veteran Matthew Patey and Rory Gillis in their quest for CIS glory.
Women's Basketball can clinch a playoff berth this weekend
It is a case of when, not if as the Sea~Hawks travel to Halifax to take on the second place Saint Mary's Huskies. The two teams split the season opener in November with Memorial failing to pick up the back end for the weekend sweep. Since that series the Huskies led by All-star Justine Colley have been rolling sprinting into second place while perennial AUS powers CBU and Memorial have faltered. The Sea~ Hawks are currently tied for third place with Cape Breton and with only six games left to play before playoffs, the Sea~Hawks could climb as high as second if they can get hot to end the season.
Grace Fishbein has been a regular on the practice court in the last week and has beeninching closer to a return to on the court following a lengthy absence due to injury. If Fishbein finds the court this week it will provide the team with a dynamic defender off the bench. The Huskies player to watch is #5 Justine Colley, who leads the AUS in scoring and assists, Colley is dynamic and athletic but if the Sea~Hawks can keep from clean paths to the rim and challenge her jump shots the games could be a step in the right direction for the Sea~Hawks.
The Sea~Hawks meet the Huskies on the court at 6:30pm Saturday and 1:30pm Sunday. Sunday's game will be webcast: http://www.sportstream.ca/
Men's Basketball team look to make it two in a row win against the Huskies
The Men will also hit up Halifax to take on the sixth place, Saint Mary's Huskies. with the opportunity to end their 12 game losing streak. When the teams tipped off in the season opening series they split the weekend with the Men (92-85 SMU and 90-79 MUN). Traditionally the Sea~Hawks match up well against SMU and the coaching staff has prepared the team to keep that trend alive and build upon the improved effort they had against UPEI. The Sea~Hawks will be trying to shut down the AUS leading scorer #22 Tory Fassett.
The Sea~Hawks meet the Huskies on the court at 8:30pm Saturday and 4:30pm Sunday. The Webcast is available on Sunday at www.sportstream.ca/