(FREDERICTON, NB) The Sherbrooke Vert et Or scored a 3-1 win over the UNB Reds, splitting their weekend RSEQ series 1-1.
The Vert et Or won with scores of 25-16, 17-25, 25-20, and 25-21.
Yoan David (Sherbrooke, QC) led the Vert et Or with 14 kills and nine digs, while Gabriel Dube-Constantin (Longueuil, QC) and Jean-Philippe Talbot (Granby, QC) each had 10 digs.
Connor McConnell (Hanwell, NB) had a match-high 18 kills to lead UNB, while Drew Duncan (Winnipeg, MB) registered a match-high 14 digs. Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB) had 34 assists.
"We were able to block Connor (McConnell) more effectively, so that provided some stability for us," said Talbot. "Our setters made good choices and we were able to keep the momentum through the whole game, and we were super-smart in our play."
The Reds began Saturday's match in much the same way they ended Friday's, a 3-2 UNB victory, playing aggressive volleyball.
The Reds fashioned an early 4-2 lead before the visitors rallied to tie the score 4-4.
Sherbrooke then jumped out to an 11-7 lead, which prompted a Reds time-out. The visitors would continue to build, leading 16-10 at the technical time-out.
Using a concentrated attack, the Vert et Or had little trouble holding UNB the rest of the way, winning the first set 25-16.
UNB found some footing in the second set, and the Reds pushed out to a 7-3 lead.
Sherbrooke fought back, but the Reds held and led 16-13 at the technical time-out.
The home team appeared more focused, using some runs to go ahead 24-15, on route to winning the second set 25-17.
In another back-and-forth match, Sherbrooke rebounded in the third set, taking a 13-7 lead.
UNB would rally to tie the set 15-15, but the visitors were up 16-15 at the technical time-out.
The Vert et Or ran their lead to 20-16 following the break, prompting a UNB time-out.
Sherbrooke won the third set 25-20.
In the fourth, the Vert et Or were up 16-14 at the technical time-out, then ran that lead to 19-14.
Despite some push-back by the Reds, Sherbrooke won the set 25-21 to win the match 3-1.
"I don't think we were able to play as we wanted to play," said Reds hitter Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). "That happens, so we need to work even harder the next two weeks."
Luchese says Friday's five-set marathon was not a factor in Saturday's loss.
"I wouldn't say that, because our team is physical, maybe it just wasn't our day," he said. "They played really well, even though they were missing a couple of players."
The Vert et Or, now 7-and-6, host Montreal on Friday.
The Reds, now 3-and-9, will visit Montreal on February 7th and 8th, for a two-match series against the Carabins.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics