On the Court, Sea~Hawks Women control their own destiny while Wrestlers look to pin the competition

Women's Basketball

     

Looking to end a four game losing streak that has brought the Sea~Hawks back down to 500 the team travels to PEI this weekend to take on the 2-10 UPEI Panthers with hopes of creating some distance between themselves and CBU for the third see in the playoffs. This will be the second time the Panthers and the Sea~Hawks tangle this season as the team split a the two game series at the field house this past November which forced the Sea~Hawks to take a bounce back win taking the second game 95-71.

     

The Panthers are a team on the prowl and have also knocked off perennial playoff contenders, seventh place St. FX. The Sea~Hawks are hoping to get back into their groove by increasing their shooting percentage and controlling the pace of play. Ally Forsey will need to continue to lead the way as she has continues to streak towards a personal all-star nod. If she can continue to take advantage of her trips to the charity stripe, currently shooting 9/10 and dominating in the paint, the Sea~Hawks shooters should be able to regain their shooting touch.

     

The Sea~Hawks square off against the Panthers at 6:30pm on Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday. The webcast can be found here.

     

Men's Basketball

     

Following a physical weekend against Acadia the Sea~Hawks travel to UPEI to take on the 9-3 Panthers. Despite receiving five technical fouls in Saturday's game for standing up for their teammates, the Sea~Hawks have moved on and are focused on ending their 10 game losing skid against the athletic and talented Panthers

     

The Sea~Hawks were out rebounded 37-32 and lost both games earlier in the season to the first place Panthers, losing by double digits in both games. The Panthers have been a very impressive offensive team that has been shooting the lights out this season. To slow UPEI down the Sea~Hawks will have to dig in and play total team defense and exhibit some of the heart and determination they consistently lacked this season. Offensively the Sea~Hawks have learned from their previous losses and are will try and penetrate the Panthers zone defense more efficiently relying on their younger athletic players to help veterans Mark Woodland and Robbie Habib break free of their slumping ways.

     

Sea~Hawks fifth year, Jason Shepherd will need to continue to be the team leader averaging 19.3 points per game. Head coach Peter Benoite believes Shep shold have a lot of help this weekend as Michael Helsby, Shepherd and Habib are showing signs of improvement on the defensive boards averaging close 18 defensive rebounds a game amongst themselves.

     

The Sea~Hawks square off against the Panthers at 8:30pm on Saturday and 3:30pm on Sunday.watch the games live on your computer, click here.

     

Women's Volleyball

     

The Lady Hawks who have recently jumped ahead of Acadia into fifth place in the AUS standing by just one win will be traveling to Wolfville to compete in what is sure to be two games with a playoff like intensity. With playoffs just around the corner both teams will be fighting for what should be the fifth and final playoff seed or even higher in the Sea~Hawks case. A sweep by Memorial would push the Lady Hawks past St. FX into fourth place. However, the team is focused on a one game at a time attitude and will worry about the playoffs when they get there.

     

It is safe to say that one of these two teams will be on the outside looking in as the sixth seed position will most likely be taken by the AUS playoff host, Universite de Moncton (currently seventh place). The Lady Hawks should be well rested and focused following a mid winter's weekend off from game action. The rest should help give them the extra power especially at the net where Angela Peddle, Chantel Jones and an emerging Jill Lynch will be looking to overpower and out play Acadia's front line of 6'0 Murphy and 6'1 Bolduc. Murphy who averages 2.54 kills per game will have to get past the fearsome threesome and if she does Samantha March who averages 3.22 digs per game will be waiting to turn her away.

     

For the first time in five years the Sea~Hawks control their own fate in the race for the final three playoff positions. With six games left to play the players are focused and ready to make some noise in the AUS throughout the remainder of the season.

     

The Sea~Hawks meet the Axewomen on the court at 7:30pm Saturday you can watch the webcast here and 12:30pm Sunday with the webcast available here.

     

Men's Volleyball

     

The Men's Volleyball team heads back to Fredericton this weekend for their final road trip of the season. Sitting at 1-12 on the season the Sea~Hawks have made serious strides towards becoming a contender in the AUS. Clearly there is a lot of work to be done as the team requires some greater depth and continued improvement at all positions but for the rest of this season the guys are focused on proving that Memorial is an up and coming program that will contend soon enough.

     

The Games are scheduled for 4:30pm on Saturday January 28, and Sunday's match is scheduled for 12:30. The very athletics UNB Varsity Reds currently sit atop the AUS with a 9-5 record and are on pace to have home court advantage in the best two out of three play downs in February.

     

The games this weekend will be the last games on the road for fifth year Alex Barrett who would love nothing more than a win against the reigning AUS champions. Follow along at home by clicking here.

     

Wrestling

     

The Memorial Wrestling team will also be in Fredericton this weekend as the team competes in the UNB Open as they prep for the CIS Qualifier in two weeks time. As usual Head Coach Kerri Ann Evely has a highly motivated group of talented wrestlers who are all looking to improve upon the results of October's Concordia Open.

     

The men's team will be anchored by veterans Ryan Nichols and Matthew Patey while the women welcome back CIS Bronze medalist Victoria Ralph, Dia as she is affectionately known missed the first meet as she was helping the Women's Cross country team win an AUS Bronze medal in Fredericton. 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 championship experience from last season. Carla Chaytor, Cassuandra Park, and Noelle Laite round out a tenacious roster for the women's side as the team will use the weekend as a barometer heading into the CIS qualifying meet in two weeks time.

     

The Men's team features a strong and athletic group with first year wrestlers David Young, Dennis Sutton, and Dustin Silvey rounding out the men competing this weekend. Silvey a Master of Science (Kinesiology) student has been wrestling for a number of years but until this year has not had the opportunity to compete with other athletes from the CIS. It has been three months since the team last competed at Concordia University and the lessons learned in October should be prevalent as the team prepares for the CIS qualifier in February.