MacPhail leads Mystics over Chargers

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics were victorious over the Crandall Chargers 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19) at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

The Mystics started the first set very strong as they recorded early kills from Catherine MacPhail (Halifax, NS), with two and Sarah Ryan (Inverness, NS). As the set was tied at 3, Jolie Allain (Miramichi, NB) would claim the early lead for the Chargers with a strong kill. As the Chargers led 6-5, the Mystics would respond with consecutive kills from Hannah Huntley (Truro, NS) and Seven McHatten (Charlottetown, PE) to regain the lead at 7-6. The Mystics were able to extend their lead later to 12-9 as McPhail secured a kill. The Chargers would go on a seven-point run, highlighted by a kill from Melora Cook (Hillsborough, NB) which gave the Chargers a 16-12 lead in the set. The Mystics promptly answered with consecutive kills from MacPhail to close the gap to 16-14 for the Chargers. As the set continued, the Chargers pulled away from the Mystics to claim the first set victory by a 25-18 score. 

The Mystics opened the first set with an early lead, as McHatten would have a massive kill to give them a 4-2 lead. The Chargers looked to Emma Visser (Orwell Cove, PE) and Cook as they recorded consecutive kills to narrow the lead to 5-4 for the Mystics. As the set progressed, the Mystics would extend their lead as they won consecutive kills from MacPhail and Cela MacLellan (Sydney, NS) to give them a 14-9 lead. The Chargers would attempt to answer the Mystics' run as Hailey Legacy (Dieppe, NB) tallied a kill to lessen the set score to 14-13 for the Mystics. Emily Murphy (Moncton, NB) would sub in for the Mystics and promptly record an ace. This would be followed by another crucial kill for MacPhail to give the Mystics a 18-13 lead in the set. The Mystics would hold their lead for the remainder of set to secure the set victory with a 25-22 score, tying the match at 1-1. 

The Mystics would continue to carry their momentum into the third set, as Ryan would tally consecutive kills, followed by an ace by MacPhail to give the Mystics a 6-2 early lead in the set. The Chargers would respond to the early flurry from the Mystics when Visser would secure a kill after a back-and-forth rally as the Mystics' lead was lessened to 6-4. As the set continued, the Mystics held a 9-7 lead before they would go on a six-point run, highlighted by a block by Ryan and an ace by MacLellan. The Mystics' lead extended to 15-7. Late in the set, the Mystics would get two kills from McHatten and another from MacLellan as the Mystics' lead would be pushed to 21-10. The Chargers chipped away at the Mystics' lead with kills from Legacy and Kassandra Roy (Dieppe, NB) but the Mystics would close out the set and take the third set 25-20, to take a 2-1 lead into the fourth set. 

Early in the set, the Mystics would win a point as Ryan provided stellar net defence, as she recorded a block to give the Mystics a 3-1 lead. The Mystics would extend their lead as McHatten recorded a kill to give them a 6-3 lead. With the score at 7-6 for the Mystics, the Chargers would have some crucial plays, highlighted by two kills from Cook and another by Allain, as it gave them a 9-8 set lead. After an ace from Legacy that gave the Chargers a 13-10 lead, the Mystics answered with consecutive kills from MacPhail and Ryan to close the gap to 13-12 for the Chargers. Both teams would continue to trade points throughout the set, but the Mystics would jump out to a 22-19 lead as they won consecutive points from kills by MacLellan and Mia Murphy (Truro, NS). The Chargers called a timeout in hopes to regroup and attempt to comeback and claim the fourth set. It was to no avail as the Mystics would close out the Chargers and they would win the final three points. Murphy would close out the set and gained the victory for the Mystics with a crushing kill as they won the fourth set 25-19, winning the match 3-1. 

Stat Leaders for the Mystics

Catherine MacPhail - 18 kills, 12 digs
McKenzie Antle (Bishops Falls, NB) - 43 assists, 11 digs
Sarah Ryan - five blocks, seven kills

Stat Leaders for the Chargers

Jolie Allain - 12 kills
Amanda MacBain (Charlottetown, PE) - 29 assists, seven digs
Hailey Legacy - four blocks, seven kills

The Mystics moved to 10-6. They travel to Truro to face off with the Dalhousie Rams tomorrow afternoon. First serve is at 3:00pm. The Chargers fall to 5-11.  The Chargers will visit the UKC Blue Devils tomorrow afternoon in Halifax. Opening serve is at 1:00pm.