In this edition of Hurricanes Weekend Previews, the Holland Hurricanes conclude first-semester volleyball action at home, and the basketball teams finish November with another trip to Nova Scotia.
Here’s everything you need to know for the Hurricanes in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) competition on Saturday, Nov. 29.
By Reegan MacAulay
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes complete the first semester with an important game against the league-leading University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves on Saturday at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
After executing season-best performances last weekend, with a pair of straight-set victories against UKC and Dalhousie on their home court, the 5-4 Hurricanes look to keep their recent momentum going into the holiday break, having won four of their past five games. Notably, every one of their wins has come without a set loss thus far.
With that in mind, in addition to their position amidst a three-way tie for fourth in the conference with Dalhousie and STU, arguably their biggest challenge of the first semester comes at the very end – a game against the conference’s top team, which is a rematch.
The Seawolves are 7-2 after nine games, having won five of their last six, but they did lose their most recent match 3-2 to STU. Like Holland, UNBSJ has multiple straight-set victories, but unlike Holland, they’ve also had a few close calls with five-set contests. The two teams previously battled on Oct. 26, with the Seawolves winning 3-1 in Saint John.
While the games-played category is very inconsistent across the conference, with some teams still catching up and others already on holiday break, the fact that six teams are within a four-point bubble for first place still proves the level of competition that this season continues to offer. It’ll undoubtedly be on full display at the McMillan Centre this weekend.
Watch Saturday’s game live at at 3:00 p.m.
Connect with the women’s volleyball Hurricanes at .
Women’s Basketball
Just like how they started the season and November, the women’s basketball Hurricanes will end the month on the road. They vie to bounce back from a tough home-opening loss last Saturday on their final road trip of the first semester.
Tied with Mount Allison for third in the conference with a 3-2 record, they’ll head to Halifax, N.S., for the second time this season this Saturday to do battle with the winless, 0-5 University of King’s »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵ(UKC) Blue Devils.
Despite the significant record differences, both teams are not far apart statistically – for example, Holland has 311 points-for and an average of 62.2 points per game. In comparison, UKC has averaged 59 points per game and has recorded 295 points-for.
Between Holland’s strong road presence and UKC’s hunger to finally win, this first-time game between the two teams is shaping up to be a wild one.
Catch the action live on at 3:00 p.m.
Connect with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at .
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball Hurricanes will join the women in Halifax, N.S., on Saturday to also challenge the UKC Blue Devils, with the men’s Blue Devils also winless – 0-5 – heading into this weekend.
Holland sits sixth in the standings with a 1-4 record, two points behind a two-way tie for fourth. They’re coming off a narrow 86-82 home-opening loss to STU, which, had it not been for a couple of bad late-game breaks, could’ve easily gone their way. After five games, they’ve kept most close, but just need a bit more luck.
Meanwhile, UKC recently lost 103-54 on the road to MSVU and has yet to allow a score deficit of less than 17.
Both teams are at the bottom of the conference with lengthy skids – three consecutive losses for Holland, and five for UKC. Combine all the facts, and this upcoming match has the makings of an intense, physical, and emotional affair, as both teams will be clawing for every bit of real estate imaginable in the fight to climb up the standings and prove better than where they currently stand.
Tune into the action live on at 5:00 p.m.
Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes at .
Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at , and .
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