Mystics triumphed over Rams 3-0

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the Dalhousie Rams 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-23) at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

The Mystics jumped out to an early lead as Emily Murphy (Moncton, NB) recorded two kills that bookended a kill by Seven McHatten (Charlottetown, PE) to give them an early 4-1 lead. The Mystics held control for the majority of the early portion of the set, but the Rams made a run midway through the set when Maryn McCoombs (George Town, Cayman Islands) registered a kill, followed by an ace by Caroline Villegas (Vancouver, BC) to narrow the Mystics' lead to 16-15. The Mystics would extend their lead as Cela MacLellan (Sydney, NS) notched a kill, and two points later, she would have a crucial block at the net to give them a 20-17 lead. McHatten would launch an ace on the ensuing serve for the Mystics and they would end up claiming victory in the first set, by a score of 25-20. 

MacLellan would record two consecutive aces for the Mystics early in the set, as they would claim an early 3-2 set lead. Callie Immerkar (Swan River, MB) would have a major impact for the Rams in the second set, she recorded a kill that tied the set at 7, then would record an ace two serves later as the Rams jumped out to a 9-7 lead. As the Rams looked to extend their lead, McHatten would secure a point for the Mystics as she had a vital block to close the lead to 12-10 for the Rams. As the set moved forward, the Rams would take a 15-13 as Immerkar recorded another kill. The Mystics would respond as Sarah Ryan (Inverness, NS) recorded a kill, followed by a Murphy ace that tied the set at 15. Maryn McCoombs would record consecutive aces for the Rams as they would overtake the Mystics late in the set 19-16. The Mystics would tie the set at 19 as the Rams had three consecutive technical errors. As the Rams were trailing in the set 21-20, Immerkar would provide a spark as she recorded back-to-back kills to give them a slight 22-21 lead. The Mystics tied the set up at 23 when Ryan registered a kill. The Mystics would claim the second set when the Rams closed the set on three consecutive technical errors. The Mystics won the second set 26-24. 

The Mystics would continue their strong start early in the third set, as Murphy and Ryan would record kills to give the Mystics a 4-2 lead. As the Mystics would take a 6-5 after McHatten recorded a kill, the Rams would respond with two kills from Ashley Rideout (Conception Bay South, NL) and another kill by Immerkar. The Mystics would maintain a lead midway through the set as McKenzie Antle (Bishops Falls, NB) recorded an ace to give the Mystics a 10-8 lead. As both teams continued to exchange points throughout the set, the Mystics would have a three-point run as Murphy tallied two kills and Ryan notched another kill to give them a 19-17 lead over the Rams. As momentum looked to be with the Mystics, Villegas would reclaim the momentum after she recorded four consecutive aces for the Rams as they took a 22-19 lead late in the third set. The Mystics would answer the run with their own run, highlighted by two kills by Ryan and an ace by Murphy to take a 23-22 lead in the final moments of the set. The Mystics would close out the Rams as they won the decisive third set by a 25-23 score. 

It was Senior Night at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium and prior to opening serve, the Mystics' coaching staff acknowledged their three graduating seniors - McKenzie Antle, Hannah Huntley, and Catherine MacPhail. 

Stat Leaders for the Mystics

Sarah Ryan - eight kills, one block
Seven McHatten - eight kills, one ace, one block
McKenzie Antle - 32 assists, one ace

Stat Leaders for the Rams

Callie Immerkar - 13 kills, one ace
Ashley Rideout - 11 kills
Caroline Villegas - five aces

The Mystics moved to 12-6 on the season as they closed out their home schedule. They will return to the court next Saturday February 15th when they travel to Sackville to face the Mount Allison Mounties. Game time is at 2:00pm. The Rams dropped to 8-10. They will return to the court on Sunday February 9th when they host the Crandall Chargers in Truro. Opening serve is at 1:00pm.