Mystics fall to Mounties in four sets

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Allison Mounties earned a four-set win over the host Mount Saint Vincent Mystics on Sunday afternoon, taking the match 25-16, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17.

Both teams opened the first set trading points, but with the score tied 5–5, the Mounties seized momentum with a four-point run highlighted by consecutive aces from Mya Artibello (Antigonish, NS). The Mystics responded later with a three-point surge capped by a block and kill from Sarah Ryan (Inverness, NS), narrowing the deficit to 18–16. That was as close as they would get, as the Mounties closed the set on an eight-point run featuring three kills from Chloe Palmer (Aylesford, NS) to take it 25–16.

The Mystics came out strong in the second, building a 7–4 lead behind a kill from Emily Murphy (Moncton, NB) and an ace from Taylor Kukurski (New Denmark, NB). Mount Allison responded with a seven-point run fueled by three more aces from Artibello to jump ahead 12–8, eventually stretching the lead to 16–10 after a pair of kills from Sarah Mason (Fredericton, NB). The Mystics clawed back with two separate four-point runs - one sparked by Murphy, and another highlighted by an ace from Ryan and a key kill by Seven McHatten (Charlottetown, PE) - giving MSVU an 18–17 edge. The Mounties regrouped with a late four-point push to move ahead 22–19 and held on for the 25–21 win.

In the third, the Mystics took control early with a four-point run to jump ahead 4–1, followed shortly by a 10–4 advantage thanks to consecutive kills from McHatten. The teams traded points through the middle of the set before the Mounties made a push with kills by Palmer and Kaia MacDougall (Dartmouth, NS) to cut the lead to 15–13. The Mystics held firm from there, maintaining their momentum and taking the set 25–18 to force a fourth.

The fourth set began tightly before the Mounties broke away with a five-point run capped by two Mason kills to take an 8–3 lead. They continued to apply pressure, extending their advantage to 15–8. The Mystics responded with a three-point burst sparked by a block from Ryan and another McHatten kill, trimming the deficit to 15–11. However, the Mounties' lead proved too difficult to erase, and they closed out the match with a 25–17 victory in the final set.

Top Performers – Mystics

• Seven McHatten: 11 kills, 5 digs

• Taylor Kukurski: 9 kills, 2 aces

• Rebekah McGeoghegan (Stratford, PE): 30 assists

Top Performers – Mounties

• Chloe Palmer: 14 kills, 8 digs

• Sarah Mason: 14 kills, 6 digs

• Mya Artibello: 5 aces

The Mystics return to action on Saturday, November 29, hosting the St. Thomas Tommies at 1:00 p.m. The Mounties play the same day as they welcome the Dalhousie Rams for a 2:00 p.m. start.