Holland College set to host ACAA Volleyball Championships!

2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships Preview
By Reegan MacAulay
 
It’s time to crown champions in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) volleyball conference. After a regular season filled with an exciting combination of domination and parity, 10 teams across the women’s and men’s volleyball conferences are set to battle for regional glory at the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships on Prince Edward Island.
 
The Holland College Hurricanes will host all the action from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23 at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement in Charlottetown, P.E.I. It’s their first time hosting the regionals since 2019. That year, the men’s volleyball program won its second all-time regional title and second within three years. The women’s team finished runner-up but has since picked up two of the last four championships.
 
Six women’s volleyball teams will look to book their ticket to the 2025 CCAA Women’s National Volleyball Championship in Oshawa, Ontario, while four men’s volleyball teams have their sights set on earning a spot at the 2025 CCAA Men’s National Volleyball Championship in Niverville, Manitoba.
 
Here is everything you need to know about this weekend’s action – a preview of each match, a breakdown of each team’s regular season performance, and important information.
 
Women’s Volleyball
 
Quarterfinals - Friday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. - Holland College Hurricanes (6th) vs. St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies (3rd)
 
The women’s volleyball action begins Friday with a quarterfinal rematch from last year’s championships. One team looks to rally with a home-crowd advantage and advance to the semifinals again, while the other looks for an improved outcome.
 
The hosting Holland College Hurricanes (9-11) have a big opportunity to achieve two ACAA championships within three years and three within five years (excluding 2020-21 due to COVID-19) in front of their fans. A season with high expectations started strong with a three-game winning streak and five wins in seven games, but slowly faltered into inconsistent patterns from late November onward. They avoided nearly missing the playoffs with crucial back-to-back victories at home in February, which kept them ahead of the reigning champions, the UKC Blue Devils, for the final playoff spot. While it’s been a bumpy ride to the finish result-wise, the spirited squad has proven they can compete hard and work well together when playing at their best. This weekend, it’s about coming in clutch, battling against the pressure of fighting for a championship at home and gaining a performance boost from their fans.
 
Five players from the team’s 2023 championship-winning roster have already experienced what it’s like to be on top of the world, including P.E.I.-born left-sides Jenna O’Neill (Cornwall) and Morgan White (Charlottetown), middles Myah Utrosa (Brooklin, Ontario) and Abby Macdonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), and right-side Charlotte Sweetapple (Corner Brook, NL). Rookies like setter/libero Marissa O’Donnell (Fredericton, N.B.), libero Erica Correard (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and setter/right-side Madelyn Tomyn (Prince Albert, SK) have shown great progression throughout the season, showcasing their improvements during the second half with breakout performances, which they look to put on full display this weekend.
 
The St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies (12-8), previously champions in 2008, were once towards the bottom of the conference. They won their first two games but then lost eight of their next nine. Since Jan. 12, they have yet to lose another game, entering the championships with a nine-game winning streak which propelled them to third place. Looking to end a lengthy championship curse with their recent momentum, they meet a former foe from quarterfinal action in 2024, who they went 1-1 against during the 2024-25 regular season. The season series will fittingly end with a do-or-die playoff match to settle the winner.
 
Third-year outside hitter Kathleen Boyle (Fredericton, N.B.) will be a name to keep an eye on as she concluded the regular season as the conference’s best in kills (332) and kills per set (4.15). Another is sophomore setter Jenna Murphy (Middle Sackville, N.S.), who recorded 451 assists during the regular season and finished fifth in the conference in assists per set with 7.27.
 
If Holland wins, they will play Mount Allison in the semifinals. If STU wins, they will play UNBSJ.
 
Quarterfinals - Friday, Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m. - Dalhousie Rams (5th) vs. Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics (4th)
 
One team has returned to the playoffs and another seeks to regain their dominant ways from the first half of the regular season.
 
The Dalhousie Rams (9-11) are back at the championships after a tough 2023-24 season where they went 5-13. This season, a relatively young squad bounced back from a five-game losing streak at the start by winning nine of their next 15 games; their final second-half record was 5-5. Entering this weekend as an underdog who gave some teams scares over the season, they look to beat a team they have yet to conquer – if there’s any match where it could finally happen, it’s this one.
 
Players to watch out for include second-year middle Callie Immerkar from Manitoba (second in the conference in kills with 251 and fifth in kills per set with 3.44) and the dynamic sister duo of Maryn McCoombs (fourth-year libero, second in digs per set with 3.89, third in digs with 272) and Megan McCoombs from the Cayman Islands (second-year middle, fifth in blocks per set with 0.67).
 
The Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics (12-8) are set on regaining their dominant early-season form which fell apart during the winter months. They went on a fantastic run in the first half, winning nine consecutive games after losing their first three. Initially making their mark as a force to be reckoned with, especially after a solid 2023-24 season, things didn’t go as planned the rest of the way as they won only three of their next eight games and ended the season with back-to-back straight-set losses. Set to challenge a youthful team they dominated against during the regular season, they’re ready to rebound from last year’s disappointing semifinal loss and go on a deeper run this time.
 
Key players will be fourth-year left-side Catherine MacPhail (Halifax, N.S., second in the conference in kills per set with 3.63, third in kills with 247), fourth-year libero Hannah Huntley (Truro, N.S., fifth in digs with 264), third-year middle Cela MacLellan (Sydney, N.S., third in services per set with 0.65, fourth-best hitting percentage of 0.276) and fourth-year setter Mckenzie Antle (Bishops Falls, NL, second in assists per set with 8.08).
 
Advancing scenarios
If Dalhousie wins and STU beats Holland, Dalhousie will play Mount Allison in the semifinals.
If Dalhousie wins and Holland beats STU, Dalhousie will play UNBSJ in the semifinals.
If MSVU wins and STU beats Holland, MSVU will play Mount Allison in the semifinals.
If MSVU wins and Holland beats STU, MSVU will play UNBSJ in the semifinals.
 
Semifinals - Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. - Lowest advancing seed vs. Mount Allison Mounties (1st)
 
The lowest advancing seed out of Friday’s quarterfinal games will be met by the conference’s best team this season, who claimed the first seed by a mere two points.
 
The Mount Allison Mounties (17-3) are the favourites heading into this year’s championships. After losing a straight-set championship finale in 2024 against UKC, they have made it clear they’re ready to go for it again and earn it this time. Ironically, it was UKC who they lost to at the start of this season, but, immediately after surged to 14 consecutive wins between Oct. 27 and Jan. 19. A few away-game losses in the closing weeks nearly had them leapfrogged for first place. Between the three teams they could play in their semifinal match on Saturday, they have eight wins and have yet to lose against any of MSVU, Dalhousie, and Holland. It’s important to note the Mounties went undefeated on their home court across 10 games but their three losses all came during road trips; thus, it’ll be important they maintain their domination and composure while away from home this weekend.
 
Three fourth-year P.E.I. stars will chase a championship in their home province. Marie Fogarty, a middle from Charlottetown, led the conference with a 0.387 hitting percentage and is joined by Monica Gollaher, a libero from Charlottetown, and Julia Henry, an outside hitter from Red Point. Another notable fourth-year talent to watch out for, from the mainland, is Erica Astephen (Halifax, N.S.), who ended the season with a 0.342 hitting percentage (second-best in the conference) and 0.81 blocks per set (third-best).
 
Semifinals - Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. - Highest advancing seed vs. University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves (2nd)
 
The highest advancing seed out of Friday’s quarterfinal games will challenge the conference’s bridesmaid who came close to stealing the first seed at the regular season’s end.
 
The University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves (16-4) were just as dominant over the regular season as the Mount Allison Mounties as they also achieved an undefeated home-game record, but they were slightly less powerful on the road at 6-4. They started the season by winning their first eight games and, later, won eight of their next 12. After hosting the championships in 2024 and being eliminated in quarterfinal action by none other than the Mounties, they look to meet them again this year, but this time in what would no doubt be a dramatic championship game if they win on Saturday.
 
Look out for players like third-year left-sides Emily Robichaud (Fredericton, N.B., fourth in the conference in kills with 202, fifth in kills per set with 2.85, and fifth in service aces per set with 0.63) and Dominique Gendron (Dieppe, N.B., fifth in kills with 198), and fourth-year setter Amy Carey (Halifax, N.S., fourth in assists per set with 7.77).
 
The women’s volleyball championship final will be on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m.
 
Men’s Volleyball
 
Semifinals - Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. - Holland College Hurricanes (3rd) vs. St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies (2nd)
 
The men’s volleyball action starts Saturday evening with two rivals meeting to start the championships for the fourth consecutive year – ever heard of Groundhog Day? One team dominated the 2024-25 regular season series and looks to advance to and win the finals on Sunday for a second year in a row, while the other will be hungrier than ever to return to the championship finale for the first time since 2022 and win their first regional title since 2019.
 
The hosting Holland College Hurricanes (10-9) have been on a result roller coaster all season, going back and forth with wins and losses. A squad with a decent balance of veterans and rookies that plays with great intensity, they started the season with back-to-back wins on their home court, lost four of their next five games, and went on a five-game winning streak between late November and mid-January. Then, they won only two of their next seven games, most against difficult competition. A notable trend throughout the season has been the team’s resilience and refusal to back down regardless of the final result as there were many times when they forced games to a fifth set. Combine a highly dynamic roster that has been fun to watch all season, a loud and jam-packed McMillan Centre crowd and another chapter of a historic rivalry, and we have the perfect recipe for a must-see match where both teams equally have a legitimate chance to emerge as champions on Sunday.
 
If the Hurricanes win the championships, it’ll be a full-circle moment; when they last won in 2019, former ACAA stars Brett Butler and Marcus Lapointe led the team to their second-ever regional title, and now, they both coach the squad. Third-year left-side Carson Gray (Stratford, P.E.I.) hopes to make that scenario become a reality and enters this weekend second in the conference in kills (274), kills per set (143), and digs (143), along with fourth in digs per set (1.99). He’s joined by equally gifted veterans like fellow left-side Dominik Pineau (Cornwall, P.E.I.), setters Tyler McBride (Oakville, Ontario) and John MacKinnon (Grand Tracadie, P.E.I.), and middle Brett Macausland (Summerside, P.E.I.). Rookie libero Connor Daniels (Adelaide, South Australia) was brilliant in the digs category during the regular season and has become a fan-favourite on and off the court.
 
The St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies (16-4) enter this weekend with huge momentum. Their regular season campaign featured two massive winning streaks, one ongoing at nine consecutive games, and an undefeated record against the Hurricanes across four games. With 11 of their 16 wins being straight-set matches, an argument could be made that they’re the favourites to win it all this year and earn their third championship within four years. If they and the USTA Dragons both advance to Sunday’s championship game, volleyball fans from afar will be in for an incredible show; the two team’s regular season series went 3-1 in favour of USTA. But first, the Tommies must focus on ensuring the Hurricanes don’t fuel themselves off the adversity they’ve (Holland) faced against an enemy that has been frustrating to play all season.
 
Players to beware of include sophomore outside-hitter Parker Melnick (Crystal Beach, Ontario, third in the conference in kills with 228 and kills per set with 3.35, and fifth with a 0.293 hitting percentage), rookie libero and Charlottetown’s very own Brayden Bruce (top of the conference with 2.51 digs per set), and fourth-year middle blocker Mason Brewster (Bathurst, N.B., top of the conference with a 0.483 hitting percentage). Three players are atop the board in services per set; Melnick with 0.74, third-year setter Raph Fiset (Calgary, Alberta) with 0.58, and fourth-year middle blocker Kevin Douglas (Surrey, B.C.) with 0.51.
 
Semifinals - Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. - University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves (4th) vs. Université de Saint-Anne Dragons (1st)
 
It’s not just Holland and STU who will play a 2024 championships rematch. UNBSJ and USTA face a near-replica of everything that happened last season between the regular season and the playoffs, but one team looks to flip the result this time.
 
The University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves (7-12) had another middle-of-the-pack season with consistent struggles to win and force games to extra sets. Entering the championships on a three-game losing skid, the young squad will need everything to go their way to shock the world and upset the conference’s best, who won all but two sets during the two team’s four-game regular-season series. In last year’s semifinal match, the Seawolves came one set short of forcing an extra. Fourth-year setter Liam McLellan (Fredericton, N.B.), who finished the regular season fifth in the conference in digs per set with 1.91, will be one of many pivotal pieces to the team’s chase for a sensational Cinderella run.
 
The Université de Saint-Anne (USTA) Dragons (18-2) contested another phenomenal regular season campaign with just two losses in 20 games and an undefeated away-game record. After being upset by STU in last year’s championships, USTA seeks regional prestige for the first time since 2023. In 2024 semifinal action, they defeated UNBSJ 3-1 and narrowly avoided a fifth set being forced. While, on paper, the Dragons are easily the favourites, regular season records don’t matter anymore, so they still need to hit their marks and ensure an entire season doesn’t come crashing down catastrophically due to one uncharacteristic performance.
 
Sophomore right-side Liam Pelletier (Sainte-Anne de Kent, N.B.) ended the regular season as the conference’s leading scorer in kills with 310 and kills per set with 4.19; he also finished second with a 0.345 hitting percentage and fourth in service aces per set with 0.50. Other noteworthy players toward the top of conference statistics include fourth-year right-side Louis-Philipe LeBlanc (Dieppe, N.B.), third-year libero Vincent Doucet (Dieppe, N.B.), fifth-year middle Jeremy Bourque (Tusket, N.S.), and third-year middle Oliver Rutherford (Bedford, N.S.)
 
The men’s volleyball championship final will be on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 2:30 p.m.
 
Important Information
 
Interested in attending the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships? Tournament passes and single-day passes will be available for purchase at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement (323 Grafton Street, Charlottetown, P.E.I.). Payment can be made by cash or card on-site.
 
Tournament passes are $35 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for students. Day passes are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for students. All Holland College students and staff get in for FREE, compliments of the Holland College Student Union, with a valid Holland College student ID.
 
Student pricing is for those who show a valid student ID from a post-secondary institution or those aged 11-18. Senior age is 65+. Children 10 and under are FREE.
 
All eight games will be broadcast on a pay-per-view basis at www.acaa.tv. Each game is $7.95 to watch live and have access for 48 hours.
 
Follow the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships on social media at www.facebook.com/acaa.aasc, www.x.com/acaa_aasc and www.instagram.com/acaa_aasc.
 
For more information on the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships, like news, results, stats, photos and more, visit www.acaa.ca.
 
For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
 
Daniel Cudmore
Athletics Development and Communications Coordinator
Department of Athletics and Recreation
Holland College
(902) 894-6870
dccudmore@hollandcollege.com