The Saint Mary's Huskies are back-to-back AUS Champions, winning the 2026 Bell Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball championship finals with a thrilling, come-from-behind reverse sweep win over the UNB REDS (23-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21, 15-8) on Tuesday night at the Homburg Centre.
The first set was tight, as to be expected with the Championship on the line. The Huskies opened up a quick 6-3 lead off a block from Alena Piatukhova, but the REDS scored four straight points off of Heather Benko's service to take the lead. Another long service run by Lydia Green, paired with outstanding play from right side Sonya Nielsen, helped UNB take a 16-8 advantage. The Huskies clawed back, with a pair of Emilia Mikanovich service aces, bookending a Alena Piatukhova kill putting the hosts ahead 20-19. But UNB closed the set with an ace from Ella Green, and a kill from Isla Olesen gave the visitors a 25-23 first set win.
The second set was another evenly matched affair, showcasing the slim difference between the AUS' top two teams. A service run from Huskies first year middle Jordan Parsons put them ahead 13-10, but UNB kept it close. Late in the set, Emilia Mikanovich delivered a kill to bring the Huskies within match point at 24-21. But the REDS pulled off a shocking comeback, with kills from Lydia Green, Sonya Nielsen, and an ace from Heather Benko helping deliver a 26-24 second set win, and bringing the REDS a set away from sending the series back to Fredericton for game three.
