Mystics rally to defeat Dragons in four sets

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the Saint-Anne's University Dragons in four sets (21-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-16) Sunday afternoon at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

The Mystics opened up the first set strong as they jumped out to a 4-2 lead as Seven McHatten (Charlottetown, PE) recorded a kill and Cela MacLellan (Sydney, NS) notched an ace. As teams traded points throughout the set, the Dragons gained the momentum with a four point run, as Isabella Cyr (Grosse Coque, NS) smashed consecutive aces to give them a 11-6 lead. The Mystics looked to battle back into the set late when they would regain the lead as McHatten recorded an ace and block to give them a 18-17 lead. As the set neared its end, the Dragons would ultimately claim the first set 25-21. 

With both teams exchanging points back and forth early in the set, neither team were able to gain the momentum. It wasn't until midway through the set that the Mystics were able to go on a strong run, as they would take 10 straight points to give them a 22-13 lead. Highlights of the run were multiple kills by Taylor Kukurski (New Denmark, NB) and McHatten as well as an ace by Rebekah McGeoghegan (Stratford, PE). The Mystics would claim the set as MacLellan would record a closing kill. 

The Mystics would open up the third set as McHatten and Emily Murphy (Moncton, NB) tallied consecutive kills to give them a 3-1 lead. The Dragons would overtake the Mystics immediately when they went on a 5 point run, capped off by a kill by Jillian MacDonald (Shediac Bridge, NB) and an ace by Kyana Brideau (Tracadie, NB) to give them a 6-3 lead. They would continue to maintain their lead when MacDonald recorded a kill and an ace to extend their lead to 10-6. The Mystics would claw back into the set when MacLellan would record a kill and another ace by McGeoghegan to narrow the Dragons' lead 13-11. Teams would go back and forth throughout the duration of the set. Both teams looked to take the decisive set, but it would end up being the Mystics who won the third set by 26-24 score. 

In the fourth set, the Dragons came out looking to extend the match to a fifth set when Brideau's ace gave them an early 4-2 lead. Momentum would swing and the Mystics would gain the lead when Murphy notched another kill to give them a 6-4 lead. They would maintain their lead when Sarah Ryan (Inverness, NS) and Kukurski record consecutive kills to give them a 9-7 lead. As the set continued, the Mystics would ultimately extend their lead with solid play from Kukurski as she finished with a kill and block in consecutive points. The Mystics would stretch their lead to 18-12. The Mystics would win the set 25-16. 

Top Performers for the Mystics

Seven McHatten - 15 kills, 11 digs

Taylor Kukurski - 14 kills, 8 digs

Rebekah McGeoghegan - 29 assists, 4 kills

Top Performers for the Dragons

Kyana Brideau - 15 kills, 3 aces

Jillian MacDonald - 8 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks

Isabella Cyr - 5 aces 

The Mystics will compete in the ACAA Championships next weekend in Fredericton. Schedule will be posted shortly upon the end of all regular season matches.