(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds rode the hot hand of outside hitter Connor McConnell (Hanwell, NB) to a 3-2 win over the Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or on Friday.
The Reds won with scores of 22-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-12, and 15-12.
McConnell registered a match and career high 37 kills, on .429 hitting percentage.
Fifth-year middle Tynan Murphy (Montague, PE) added seven kills and nine digs, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.
"The guys have been working really hard in practice, and that's our first five-set victory this season," said Murphy. "It feels really good. Hopefully we can get another tomorrow."
The two sides began the match almost in lock-step.
The Vert et Or built an early 5-3 lead, only to see the Reds tie the first set 6-6, then again 8-8.
The Reds then pulled ahead 9-8, only to see Sherbrooke score the next point and tie the score again.
Sherbrooke went ahead 15-12, prompting a UNB time-out. The tactic worked, and the Reds scored the next three points, before the Vert et Or took a 16-15 lead into the technical time-out.
After the break, the home team surged ahead 19-17, prompting Sherbrooke to take a time-out.
The Vert et Or then went on a 5-0 run to go up 22-19.
The Reds would fight back, but the visitors won the opening set 25-22.
The Reds opened the second set on a 4-0 run.
With UNB up 5-1, the Vert et Or responded with a run of their own, taking a 9-6 lead.
The Reds pushed back, going up 16-13 at the technical time out and extending the lead to 20-15.
Solid blocking helped UNB win the second set 25-18.
The third set saw the same back and forth action. Neither side was able to establish much of a lead.
UNB was up 16-15 at the official's time-out.
The teams were tied at 22, 23, and 24, before Sherbrooke strung the final two points together, winning the third set 26-24.
The fourth set saw the Reds score the first real separation, establishing a 16-8 lead at the technical time-out and pushing that lead to 20-9.
UNB continued to dominate, winning the fourth set 25-12.
The Reds held that momentum in the deciding set, but the action was close.
The sides were tied 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5 early.
UNB then moved in front, 12-10 and held Sherbrooke off to win the fifth set 15-12, and take the match 3-2.
"Everything was going right for us," said Murphy. "They helped us by making a lot of errors, but they're a great team, we'll need to be ready to go again tomorrow."
Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB) had a match-high 56 assists, while Drew Duncan (Winnipeg, MB) led both sides with 19 digs.
Yoan David (Sherbrooke, QC) led the Vert et Or with 17 kills, while Raphael Giroux (St-Agathe des Monts, QC) had 15 digs.
As for his career hitting night, McConnell was modest.
"It's a team sport, and our setters were working super hard to get us those opportunities and I think that's a big reason why we were able to do what we did," he said.
"It feels amazing," said McConnell, of the win. "We had a streak there, of losing five set matches and I'm glad we broke it tonight."
The Vert et Or, now 6-and-6, still hold third place in the RSEQ standings.
The Reds improve to 3-and-8 with the win, and remain fourth in the five-team league.
The teams conclude their weekend series on Saturday. First serve is at 1:00pm, at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics