The Mounties women’s volleyball team has been a force to be reckoned with this season. On February 15, after a near-perfect season with a 17–3 win-loss record, the Mounties advanced to the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) championships. These games took place from February 21–23, at Holland College in PEI. After a semi-final win against Dalhousie, and a finals win against UNB St. John, the team was able to bring home the banner, finishing in first place overall, winning in straight sets.
It has been quite a journey for the girls to reach their first seed position entering the championships. Their regular season began on October 26, with an away game 3–1 loss against University of King’s College. From there, they bounced back and went on to dominate all of their home games, with an impressive 10–0 record and winning seven out of ten away games this season, showcasing incredible talent and resilience.
Libero Monica Gollagher elaborated on the season they have been having so far. “One of our biggest highlights was our 14 game win streak, though we faced two tough losses in January and February. While those losses were disappointing at the time, they ultimately fuelled our determination to finish strong.” She continued by saying: “We closed out the season with a dominant win in three straight sets on senior night, securing an undefeated record in our home gym —a huge success for us. Finishing first in the standings has also given us a direct path to the semi-finals, marking a first in my four years with the team.”
The ACAA championships has demonstrated some of the Mountie’s best gameplay yet, as the women won both of their games, and secured their spot in the 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s volleyball championship, taking place in Oshawa, Ontario, in early March. Going into these playoffs, libero and right-side Lilly Johnson shared a little about how this season has felt for the players: “This has 100 percent been my favorite university volleyball season. Each player on the team this year is so determined to get a banner. Everyone has also been very happy for each other with our accomplishments and court time which is something I haven’t seen in all my other years. Finishing first in the league going into playoffs is certainly deserved and I never doubted all season we would be.”
The Mounties were even able to take home some individual awards this weekend! Logan Tait and Erica Astephen were both named First Team All-stars, Marie Fogarty was named SecondTeam All-Star, and Ana McCain took home rookie of the year. Unfortunately, the closing of this season means having to say goodbye to eight beloved seniors: Erica Astephen, Emma Burns, Marie Fogarty, Monica Gollagher, Julia Henry, Lilly Johnson, Sarah MacInnis, and Logan Tait.
In closing this chapter, Johnson and Gollagher shared some of their favourite parts of their Mt. A volleyball journeys. “The best part of my Mounties experience has been the friendships made over the years,” says Johnson, “I’ve formed many different relationships with my teammates, some of them being people I can go to when I need advice, others to go to when I need to cry, and others when I need to be hyped up.”
Gollagher echoed these sentiments, sharing that the team’s connections are what makes it so special. “In my first year, our rookie class was one of the largest, with eight new players. Among them was [Fogarty], a best friend from high school, and [Henry], whom I knew through volleyball in PEI. While I came in already knowing them, the program has given me the opportunity to build lifelong friendships beyond those connections. I now live with five of my teammates—three of whom I didn’t even know before coming to Mt. A.”
She also highlighted the importance of great coaching. “Another highlight has been my relationship with our head coach, Robbie Crouse. Over the past four years, as our team has grown and developed, he has grown alongside us. His coaching style has evolved each season, and we take pride in the trust and mutual respect we’ve built as a team.”
It is no secret that these incredible athletes and their support staff have given it their all this season, and we cannot wait to see what comes next for the Mounties women’s volleyball team as they keep the momentum rolling into the CCAA Championships!
