(FREDERICTON, NB) The U SPORTS No. 3 ranked Laval Rouge et Or needed all five sets to beat a feisty UNB Reds side 3-2, on Saturday afternoon.
Philippe Giroux (Quebec City, QC) recorded 16 kills and 11 digs, leading the Rouge et Or, while Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) had 12 kills and eight digs for the Reds.
"We're happy to get the win, but not really happy with how we got it," said Laval setter Ethan Elliott (Toronto, ON). "We had good energy in the first two sets, but something dropped in the next two, and we don't want that."
UNB began the match with a blistering 5-0 run.
Laval was able to counter, but only inconsistently, and UNB extended the lead to 8-3.
The Rouge et Or were able to find some traction, pulling even with the Reds at 10-10, and taking a 16-14 lead into the technical time-out.
Out of the time-out, the Reds surged again. Going ahead 20-18, before the visitors pulled even at 21-21.
Both sides continued to fight for single points, with Laval eventually pulling out a 25-23 win in an exciting first set.
The close, back-and-forth action continued in the second set. The teams were tied at 8, 9, and 10, before Laval pulled ahead 13-10.
The Reds fought back to tie it 15-15, but Laval was up 16-15 at the technical time-out.
Laval stayed ahead, but couldn't build a significant lead.
With the Reds pressing, and down 23-21, the Rouge et Or took a time-out.
The visitors scored the next point and went on to win the second set 25-22, taking a two-sets-to-none lead.
The Reds continued to push back in the third set, building a 16-10 lead before the technical time-out, and extending that lead to 20-13.
Laval then reeled off the next three points, closing the gap to 20-16.
But the Reds showed persistence, winning the third set 25-17.
Laval threatened to run away with the fourth set, surging to an early 9-5 lead, but the Reds were quick to trim the deficit, and then pull ahead 14-13.
UNB led 16-15 at the technical time-out, and then dominated the Rouge et Or through the remainder of the set, winning 25-17 to tie the match 2-2.
The final set saw more back-and-forth action in the early going, with the sides tied 5-5 and 6-6.
Laval was up 8-7 at the technical time-out, and then pushed that lead to 12-7, forcing a Reds time-out.
The Rouge et Or rode the momentum created by their lead, winning the set 15-9 and taking the match 3-2.
"In the fifth set, anything goes," said Reds head coach Dan McMorran. "I think for us to battle today, and we used 11 out of 14 on our roster to get that job done, I feel incredibly bad for our guys today. Yesterday, I didn't feel bad for our guys. Any time you give yourself a chance to win, that's a good day at the office."
"There was a better effort today, for sure," said Reds middle Brad Stewart (Wolfville, NS). "Better execution, and our serving was better. They're a good team and we still have lapses, and you just can't have that if you're trying to win."
Laval, now 9-and-1, visits Montreal on January 19th, while the Reds, now 2-and-8 will welcome Sherbrooke to the Currie Center for a weekend series, January 24th and 25th.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics