Reds Over Tigers In Five-Setter

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB Reds beat the Dalhousie Tigers 3-2 in RSEQ play Friday, in Halifax. The Reds won with scores of 25-18, 24-26, 25-18, 18-25, and 15-7.

Both teams were closely matched to start the first set, trading points along the way. The Reds started to pull away from the Tigers and were leading 16-11 at the technical time-out. The Tigers were unable to put together any consecutive point runs and eventually fell 25-18.

It was more of the same in the second, with both teams trading points and the lead. UNB led at the technical time-out of the second set with a score of 16-14. The Reds seemed primed to take the second, but the Tigers continued to press and took the set 26-24 to tie the match at one set apiece.

The see-saw affair continued in the third set, with neither team leading by more than four points until the technical time-out. UNB was up 16-12 and kept up the pressure and the point runs, taking the third set 25-18.

The fourth set was another tightly contested affair, and this time the Tigers were leading at the technical timeout, 16-14. It was all Tigers the rest of the way with a strong serving run by Malachy Shannon (Halifax, NS). Dalhousie took the fourth set 25-18 to tie the match at two sets apiece.

UNB came out strong in the fifth and final set, thanks in large part to a four-point serving run by Thomas Vickers (Bible Hill, NS). The Reds took the set 15-7 to end the match 3-2.

Serving errors plagued the Tigers throughout the match. They had 19 missed serves compared to UNB's six. UNB's prowess at the net also made a big difference in the match, collecting 12 blocks to Dal's two.

Leading the way for the Reds was Connor McConnell (Hanwell, NB) who had a match-high 19 kills. He added 11 digs. Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB) had 43 assists and seven digs.

Graham Schmuland (Calgary, AB) had a team-high 18 kills and had seven digs. Quinton Dowling (Waterloo, ON) recorded 47 assists and five digs.

Both teams meet again Saturday, the final regular season match for both. First serve is at 1:00pm.

RECAP BY: Angela Barrett/Dal Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Evan de Silva/for Dal Athletics