(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds made a statement against the Acadia Axewomen with a 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds won with scores of 25-18, 25-12 and 25-19.
"We knew that they were going to come out a lot stronger, so we prepared ourselves to be stronger than them," said Reds fifth-year libero Maggie McLenahan (Oromocto, NB).
The first set was a tightly contested one, in the early going. After being deadlocked at 10-10 and 11-11, the Reds pulled ahead to take the set 25-18.
The Axewomen went up 4-2 early in the second set, but the Reds would again pull the momentum in their favour, going on a 7-1 run to propel them to a 25-12 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Reds bent at times, but did not break, swinging the momentum of the game at will and dominating the tough rallies and plays close to the net.
"We just worked really hard on blocking all week during our practices and it showed today in this match," said McLenahan.
Acadia put the Reds in a hole in the third set, 7-3, but after a time-out, UNB responded yet again. A 13-3 run helped shut down the Axewomen. UNB took the set 25-19.
"She just said get back to your level of play, stay confident and take control, just take control of our side," said McLenahan about coach Christine Biggs' advice during the time-out.
McLenahan was named Subway Player of the Game with a match-high 19 digs.
Megan Kuciak (Ottawa, ON) had 10 kills for the Reds, while Adora Rooyakkers (Port Hawkesbury, NS) had six. Both players also added seven digs.
Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) led the Axewomen with eight kills and 12 digs, while Peyton DeWolfe (Conquerall Mills, NS) had seven kills and six digs.
The Reds have now won four straight matches, while the Axewomen have dropped two straight.
Third-place UNB, now 8-and-6, is within six points of 11-and-5 Acadia for second place in the Atlantic University Sport standings.
These two teams will face each other again on Friday, in Wolfville. That match is scheduled to start at 7:00pm.
RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics