(HALIFAX, NS) The Laval Rouge et Or beat the UNB Varsity Reds 3-1(25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15) in AUS-RSEQ men's volleyball interlock action, hosted by the Dalhousie Tigers.
Laval and UNB traded points early in the first set, with neither team going on any point runs until Ethan Ellison(Toronto, ON) had back-to-back service aces to give the Rouge et Or a 10-6 edge. Laval would continue to lead, eventually taking the set 25-18.
It was more of the same in the second set, with Laval leading 16-12 at the technical timeout. While both teams struggled with attack consistency and service errors, UNB got their first lead of the set on back-to-back kills to go up 22-20 and eventually take the set 25-22.
In another tight set, Laval led at the technical timeout of the third, 16-13. Vicente Ignacio Parraguirre Villalobos(Santiago, CHL), had seven kills to lead the Rouge et Or to a 25-17 third set victory to go up 2-1 in the match.
The Varsity Reds came out swinging in the fourth, with Tristen Burridge(Fort St. John, BC) leading the way. Laval was able to pull ahead after three consecutive UNB attack errors to stall the Varsity Reds momentum and led the set 16-9 at the technical timeout. Laval continued to set the pace, eventually taking the fourth and final set 25-15.
Parraguirre Villalobos led the Laval attack with a match-high 24 kills and 3 digs. Bruno Lortie(Cumberland, ON) had 14 kills and nine digs, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.
UNB had great performances from Burridge and Connor McConnell(Hanwell, NB), who had 10 kills apiece.
Laval finishes the weekend with a 2-1 record, while UNB was 1-2.
The Varsity Reds return to action next weekend, when they host the Memorial Sea-Hawks in a pair of matches, Saturday and Sunday, at the Richard J. Currie Center.