REDS Beat Rouge Et Or In Five
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS improved to 4-and-1 with a 3-2 win over the Laval Rouge et Or in RSEQ men's volleyball action, Friday night at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.
The REDS rallied from a set down to win 12-25, 26-24, 25-23, 19-25, and 15-6.
"It feels great, this is definitely an important moment for us," said REDS' hitter Nicholas Losier (Ottawa, ON), who was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "This early in the season, to be winning a game like that, it gives us good momentum."
That momentum didn't come easy as the visitors dominated the first set.
Laval raced out to an 11-4 lead, prompting an early UNB time-out, but that did little to slow the Rouge et Or, and they extended their lead to 19-9 on route to a 25-12 first set victory.
The REDS showed renewed enthusiasm in the second set, hanging with the visitors.
Losier recorded back-to-back kills to put UNB up 9-7, and when the REDS pushed their lead to 11-8, Laval took a time-out.
While the Rouge et Or were able to fight back and even the set 23-23, the REDS were able to score three of the final four points and win 26-24.
In the third, the teams traded points in the early going.
When Laval pulled out to an 13-10 lead, a couple of Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) kills brought the REDS right back into it at 13-12.
A short time later, a Lex Guimond (Baie-Sainte Anne, NB) ace would even the score 14-14.
An attack error cost Laval as the REDS moved ahead 17-15.
The teams then began trading points late, tying 21-21 and 22-22 before UNB went up 24-22, prompting a Laval time-out.
The REDS went on to win the third set 25-23, taking a two sets to one advantage.
The fourth set saw the back-and-forth play continue as the two teams traded points in the early going.
Strong play at the net by both teams limited opportunities for either side to build a significant lead.
Errors briefly became an issue for UNB and allowed Laval to go up 12-9, and while the REDS would fight to stay in it, the visitors would take the set 25-19.
In the deciding set, the REDS seized the early momentum, pulling out to a 6-3 lead and extending it to 8-4. That brought a time-out call by Laval.
UNB scored the next two points to lead 10-4, bringing another Laval time-out.
A Guimond block pushed UNB up 12-6 and the REDS would add the next three points to win the fifth set 15-6 and take the match 3-2.
"It was a bit of a rough start, but I thought we fought all the way to the end," said Losier. "Everyone on the court really wants to fight. Everyone on the bench really wants to fight, so it was good for everyone to show that."
Luchese led the REDS with 22 kills and 10 digs while Scott Mann (Winnipeg, MB) had 13 digs.
Losier finished the night with nine kills, seven digs, and six blocks.
"I've gained confidence, especially playing with veterans like Eduardo," said Losier. "I definitely have a very good team around me."
Max Losier (Ottawa, ON) registered 25 kills for Laval while Charles St-Aubin (Joliette, QC) had a game-high 49 assists and nine digs.
The REDS and Rouge et Or will close out their weekend series Saturday afternoon.
First serve is scheduled for 12:00pm Atlantic.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics