The St. Thomas University Tommies will face the Mount Allison University Mounties in their opening match of the 2018-19 ACAA Volleyball Championships.

These two squads have played each other three times this season with the Mounties winning twice on home court, both 3-0 victories, before the Tommies ended the regular season with a 3-1 victory in Fredericton.

“The confidence we carry after just beating them in our last regular season game is crucial,” said 3^rd year middle, Hannah Millier. “We had lost to them the two previous times we played them. But after seeing and feeling capable of beating them, a higher ranked team in the league, I believe we have just the right amount of confidence going into the first game on Friday. However, we will still have to play every point with a chip on our shoulders.”

Millier (Douglas, NB) is a vital part of the Tommies offence swinging out of the middle and leads the Tommies and the ACAA in service aces, with 53 on the season. Millier also sits 8^th in the ACAA in kills for the season with 138. Millier and 3^rd year left-side Megan Mills (Fredericton, NB) can be counted on to carry a big chunk of the Tommies offence, as Mills sits 2^nd in the ACAA with 214 kills on the season.

“As always we will need strong hitting games from Megan Mills and Hannah Millier, and quick offense whenever possible from the setters, whichever one is playing,” said head coach Don McKay. “Of course, having our liberos, Mija MacDonald or Jenicca Jean, passing well allows many other options on offence to occur.”

The Tommies have tasted the ACAA finals after last year making it there, only to fall to the MSVU Mystics, who have won seven straight ACAA Championships.

“Experience is a great thing,” said McKay. “Those players can talk to the others and help them prepare but until you live it, it only goes so far. Last year, it was our fans mostly, cheering for us. The majority will be cheering for Holland College this year, so we must play through the noise if we play them. It helps some but isn't the most important factor in my eyes; being able to play well, your best, no matter where you are will be most important. Communication and support from teammates will be paramount.”

The Tommies open the Championships on Friday at 3:30pm. You can catch all the action from the weekend at acaatv.ca.