Fredericton, NB - The St. Thomas University Tommies stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Holland College Hurricanes 3-2 in a battle that lasted over two hours at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym. Set scores were 25-21, 33-31, 23-25, 22-25, 6-15. Rookie Brenton Romanchuk (Drewbarry, AB) led the Tommies with 17 kills. Tommies' veteran Adam McDougall (Calgary, AB) was right behind Romanchuk with 15 and had a game high three blocks, while Austin Hamilton (Miramichi, NB) posted 14 kills. Rookie setter Raph Fiset (Calgary, AB) posted a game high 48 assists, adding two kills of his own along with 16 digs. Brendan Murphy (Fredericton, NB) led the Tommies in digs with 20.
On the Hurricanes' side it was Cameron Calhoun doing the heavy lifting - Calhoun had 24 kills and 21 digs - both game highs. He added a block as well. Luke Hyde put up 17 kills for the Hurricanes while Kiefer Sinclair led his team in assists with 46.
After taking a tight first set, 25-21, the Hurricanes pushed the Tommies to the limit in the second set as they were in hunt for a commanding 2-0 lead. Holland had a 21-17 lead in the set before three quick Tommies' points to bring back life. The two went on to knot each other up at 24-24 and would exchange points in long rallies. Multiple bodies dove to the ground throughout the sets, as the Tommies desperately tried to even the match. Finally, after a kill from Hyde to even the set at 30, the Tommies would make back-to-back errors, costing them the set.
The Hurricanes led 2-0, with a chance to sweep.
Tommies' head coach Henri Mallet said he didn't need to motivate his team after falling behind by two sets - he has his leaders that are more than capable.
"I don't have to do much with leaders like Adam [McDougall] and [Brendan] Murphy," Mallet said. "They keep the guys grounded. Even with the rookies - we have lots of rookies, but they're experienced."
The Tommies would claw their way back into the match, battling through tough sets in which they trailed multiple times throughout them. Being tied at 23 in the third set, Noah Tulk's (Lincoln, NB) kill, followed by a service ace from McDougall, the Tommies had taken a set and avoided the sweep.
The momentum was all they needed - after going back and forth for the first five points of the fourth set, the Tommies went on a 5-0 run to take a 10-5 lead. They wouldn't give up the lead for the rest of the set, taking it 25-22. Their dominance continued.
After a service error from Fiset to jumpstart the Hurricanes to a 1-0 lead. The Tommies took off and didn't look back - they'd cruise to a 15-6 set win, taking the match, completing their comeback.
"Obviously, it feels good," Mallet said of the Tommies resilience. "Every point is important." STU is now 7-3, first in the ACAA, while Holland drops to an even 5-5.
The Tommies will travel to the Université Saint Anne this weekend for a pair of games with the Dragons. Scheduled game times are Jan. 28 at 8:00PM and Jan. 29 at 12:00PM. Holland travels to Saint John for a tilt with the University of New Brunswick Saint John Seawolves on Jan. 28 & 29. Scheduled start times are 4:00PM and 12:00 PM.
