Varsity Reds defeat Carabins 3-1 in first of three at Interlock
The UNB Varsity Reds defeated the Université de Montréal Carabins 3-1, in their first of three matches in the AUS-RSEQ Interlock Tournament.
The match opened with both teams exchanging kills creating a tally of 10-10 early. UNB's Julio Fernandez unleashed a massive kill to give the V-Reds the lead at 13-12. The even play continued with huge spikes on both sides. At the technical timeout UNB maintained a one point (16-15) lead. On a quick play up close to the net, Craig Toonders sent a Marc White set to the floor to increase the V-Reds lead: 18-16. Fernandez finished off the set with a massive kill; taking the first instalment 25-21.
The second set started in UNB's favour with Eivind Anderson serving strongly to get the V-Reds out front 5-2. Montreal caught up with points at the net, from middle Samuel Landry 7-7. The V-Reds hitters continued applying pressure, and on a block by Ryan Colpitts pulled ahead 17-14. With their backs against the wall the Carabins fought back to 24-22. On a kill from UNB's Keoughan the Varsity Reds took the second set 25-22.
The third set started out at an even pacing. The teams swapped the lead back and forth over the first 16 points, splitting evenly 8-8. Toonders maintained his strong at the net presence, blocking a huge Montreal spike from Alyson Francillon, and giving the V-Reds a 10-9 lead. White managed to sneak a touch play past the Montreal middles to enter the technical timeout ahead, 16-14. Montreal's Francillon blocked a huge spike to level the set at an even 18-18. On a net serve from UNB, Montreal took the third set 25-23.
The fourth set saw UNB get out to an early 8-3 lead, with key blocks from Keoughan and Andersen Fernandez added to his grand total of 16 kills. A spike from Toonders proved too much for the Carabins defense adding to the lead now 18-9. Marc White painted the line with a spike to push the lead to 22-16. Montreal's Francillon made a desperate block UNB's Keoughan to keep up the fight: 23-19. Marc White sent the final hit into the Montreal side of the floor to take the set 25-19, and the match 3-1.
Coach Dan McMorran thought that UNB's defensive play was the main key for success saying: "Our defensive intensity was an improvement tonight since the last time we played this team, they're a good team, our defensive intensity allowed us to stay in those long rallies where sometimes we haven't been in."
The V-Reds continue AUS-RSEQ Interlock play tomorrow with two games. The first at 1:00pm against the University of Sherbrooke, and the second at 8:00pm versus Laval.