Rams look to stage an upset
Dal AC reaches playoffs for the first time in six years; will meet Mt. A in quarter-final match
TRURO, N.S. – The Dalhousie Rams will compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball playoffs for the first time in six years when they collide with the Mount Allison Mounties on Friday.
“Our biggest goal at the beginning of the season was making it to the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championships,” said team co-captain Jillian Ferguson. “Now we’ve done this, we have nothing to lose … we’re here to make an upset.”
Ferguson says this year’s team has worked well together and players have bonded. An influx of new members is also helping, as they understand their roles and are proving a good fit for the squad. Conflicts on previous teams affected their performance, according to both Ferguson and her fellow captain Samantha Nichols.
“This year it’s all about the chemistry of the team,” said Nichols.
However, Ferguson said Dal AC will be playing away against a team with a passionate home crowd in their quarter-final matchup. Instead of being intimidated, though, the Rams are focusing on their skills and the things they can control, said Ferguson.
The Rams finished the regular season in sixth place with a record of 8-10, while the Mounties were third at 13-5.
The other quarter-final match on Friday features No. 4 Mount Saint Vincent Mystics (10-8) vs. No. 5 Kings Blue Devils (10-8).
The first-place Holland Hurricanes (18-0) and secondplace St. Thomas Tommies (14-4) received byes to the semifinals.
Andrew Harding, Dal’s associate athletics director, said the team is pumped to be returning to the playoff stage.
“The comparison to last year is two wins and 19 losses,” said Harding. “That’s why we’re so thrilled.”