(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS scored a 3-0 straight-sets win over l'Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Thursday, in a one game Atlantic University Sport quarter final.
The REDS won 25-21, 25-10 and 25-15.
Lydia Green (Bedford, NS), who had six kills and four digs for the REDS, was named Subway Player of the Game.
"It feels really good," said Green. "Coming out and starting the playoffs like that, it's kind of exciting."
An energetic Moncton side, spurred on by some boisterous fans, showed a competitive side in the early moments of the opening set, building a 3-1 lead.
The REDS rallied though, pulling even and then passing the Aigles Bleues, going up 6-3 on an early kill by Emma Burns (Fredericton, NB).
Strong play at the net had the REDS ahead 16-10 at the technical timeout of the first set.
An emphatic kill by Bailey Lemieux (Fredericton, NB) pushed UNB's lead to 20-14, prompting a Moncton timeout.
With UNB up 21-15, Abigail Pallister (Moncton, NB) served four straight points as the Aigles Bleues cut into the REDS lead, but UNB hung on to win the first set 25-21.
In the second set, the REDS raced out to a 5-1 lead, forcing Moncton to call an early timeout.
That did little to slow the UNB push, and the REDS went ahead 9-1 before Moncton scored again.
An Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB) kill extended UNB's lead to 12-4 and forced the Aigles Bleues to call another timeout.
The REDS carried a 16-7 lead into the technical timeout.
UNB's power game proved too much for Moncton, and the REDS won the second set 25-10.
UNB led 5-2 early in the third set before Moncton scored two to close the gap to 5-4.
The visitors did what they could to try and stay with the REDS, but trailed 16-10 at the technical timeout.
Moncton could not contain the REDS offence in any sustained way, and UNB won the third set 25-15.
"We just worked to keep them out of system," said Green. "We hit to their right side, kept their setter out of play, tough serves, everyone served hard tonight and kept the ball in play."
Fifth-year REDS hitter Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) led the UNB attack with 10 kills and a dozen digs.
Emma Burns had a game-high 16 digs, while her sister, Catherine Burns (Fredericton, NB) had 24 assists.
Cassidy Martin (Dieppe, NB) led Moncton with 10 digs and 18 assists, while Ivana Urquhart-Mladineo (Saint John, NB) added six kills and two digs.
"UNB's a good team, they always go to work," said Urquhart-Mladineo. "They know how to score and they don't stop, so credit them for that, but we weren't able to turn the ball around when we got a good pass, we weren't able to execute."
The loss ends Moncton's season.
The Aigles Bleues finished the regular season fifth in the AUS. Urquhart-Mladineo is optimistic about 2022-23.
"We're a really tight group of girls, we gel really well, and we only lose one player to graduation. Our coaches will have their first year under their belt too, so there are positives."
The REDS advance to the conference semi-finals, where they'll meet the number one seeded Saint Mary's Huskies, Saturday, in Halifax, in another elimination game.
First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.
"It should be a good game," said Green. "We're going to have to fight for it, but that'll be really good."
The REDS won both regular season games against the Huskies.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics