Volleyball Turnaround

The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds climbed over the .500 mark in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball conference Saturday night at the Pit, but they did it the hard way.

After dropping the first two sets 25-17 to the Dalhousie Tigers, the V-Reds stormed back to take the match in five sets, winning 25-14, 25-15, 15-8.

Fifth-year left-side Jill Blanchard was UNB's player of the match thanks to 16 kills, 24 digs and 19 points. Erica Hay, another fifth-year left-side, helped out with 11 kills, 16 digs and 16 points.

Marlee Powers and Louise Facca both had a dozen kills for the Tigers while Lauren Smith contributed 27 digs.

The V-Reds held leads of 13-2 and 16-6 in the third set.

"I can't explain the start and I sure as heck can't explain the finish," UNB head coach John Richard said. "We came out in the third set a completely different team and never trailed, somehow gaining all the momentum."

Richard thought Rebecca Glancy "really stepped things up in the middle, which gave us a presence and we started serving much better as the match progressed. We need to serve-receive way better if we want continued success."

The Reds, now 7-6, were missing third-year libero and co-captain Monica Jones, who's out indefinitely after suffering a knee injury the previous weekend against Acadia.

Jones will have some time to heal. The V-Reds are idle this weekend, returning to action Jan. 29-30 when they play at Universite de Moncton and Acadia, respectively.

In other AUS matches Saturday, Saint Mary's beat visiting Cape Breton 3-1 (25-11, 25-18, 17-25, 25-14 and host Memorial outlasted St. FX 3-2 after dropping the first two sets. Set scores were 26-28, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 15-6.

While UNB needed five sets to defeat Dal at home, the St. Thomas Tommies swept both ends of a doubleheader against Universite Sainte-Ann of Church Point, N.S. in ACAA women's conference action. On Saturday, the Tommies were 3-0 winners with set scores being 25-17, 25-9 and 25-16. Sarah Watts was the STU player of the match with five service aces, five blocks and three kills. Martine Durelle had six kills for USA.

Tommies were a 3-0 winner Sunday as well with set scores being 25-10, 25-12 and 26-16. Natalie Fowler was the STU player of the match with 12 kills, two service aces and seven digs. Sarah Wade had 12 digs in a losing cause for USA. STU is now 8-2 on the season.