Acadia will face the No. 2 Memorial Sea-Hawks next.

The Axewomen took a quick 2-0 set lead, in front of a hometown crowd of over 700 fans.

Tied at six early in the first set, UNB pushed out to a 10-7 lead on two kills, an unforced error and a service ace.

The Axewomen worked back to a tie the game at 12 and would continue locking heads with UNB four more times, before taking the set 27-25.

The second set was not as close.

The Axewomen pushed out to a 12-6 lead and won the second frame 25-20.

Acadia went out to an 11-7 lead in the third, but the Varsity Reds would not go easily.

UNB went from a 13-14 deficit to a 19-15 lead on three Acadia attack errors, a bad set and two service aces. UNB closed out the set with a kill by Janie-Eve Doucet and an Acadia attack error, for a 25-21 win.

With a 7-0 run to start the fourth, the Axewomen would hold onto the lead for the entire set. UNB narrowed a game high 14-6 Acadia lead, but could not surpass a determined Acadia squad that won 25-18.

UNB and Acadia have now been matched up against each other in the opening quarterfinal match for the three consecutive AUS championships tournaments.

"UNB is always fun to play and they always bring a lot of intensity and it's an honour to play them. They are great competitors,"said Acadia's first team AUS all star outside hitter Sarah Ross. "We have all worked so hard and we actually matched up with them in the quarters last year, and we have been working for this moment since last year."

Olivia Boudreault was named Acadia's Subway player of the match, with a match high 25 assists, four kills and four service aces. Lauren Joyce received player of the match honours for the Varsity Reds. She posted 5 kills, 2 service aces and six digs. Janie-Eve Doucet posted a team high 11 kills and 13 points.

The loss ends the Varsity Reds' season.

BY ACADIA ATHLETICS

PHOTO BY ACADIA ATHLETICS