(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds appeared poised to sweep the Acadia Axewomen on Sunday afternoon, but a letdown turned potential domination to near disaster.
The VReds earned a 3-2 win over the visiting Axewomen, but just barely.
UNB scored 25-22 and 25-20 wins in the opening two sets, but then, according to head coach Jilliane Portelli, stopped doing the little things. "Attention to detail, small, little things that can get overlooked as being big things that we weren't quite doing right," said Portelli. "It was just little things adding up, I wouldn't say there was an over-riding lack of anything, just a lack of focus."
The third and fourth sets were just a close as the opening two, but Acadia prevailed. They took the third set 25-22 and the fourth 25-21.
Sarah Ross led the Axewomen with 15 kills and 13 digs. Hillary Monette recorded a game-high 29 digs.
Acadia head coach Michelle Wood, while disappointed with the loss, feels her team demonstrated some staying power. "To start off set one and set two the way that we did, it's not our typical way to start a match, but to have staying power, to come back, was good," said Wood. "I think that we wait for our opponent to approach us before we approach them and I think that has to change."
On the Varsity Reds' side of the net, Janie-Eve Doucet led the way. She 17 kills and 26 digs. Claire Richard had 27 digs.
After watching their two set lead slip away, Doucet was happy with the win. "Especially at home. When you get wins at home, it's our home gym, you don't want people to look at you as weak at home, you want to be strong at home."
With a 3-and-4 record, UNB sits atop the Atlantic University Sport standings. Acadia is last in the conference, with an 0-and-3 record.
The Varsity Reds go on the road next weekend, heading to Halifax for a Saturday date with the Saint Mary's Huskies.