Vert et Or Complete Weekend Sweep
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS ended the first half of their RSEQ 2021-22 regular season scheduled with a 3-0 loss to the visiting Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or on Sunday, at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.
"They were able to maintain the same level of volleyball the whole time, and we were all about ups and downs," said REDS outside hitter Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande du Sul, BRA). "That was the difference, they didn't have those downs."
The REDS did not start well, falling behind 6-1 early in the first set and prompting head coach Dan McMorran to call a time-out. The Vert et Or scored the next four points to go up 10-1, forcing McMorran to call another time-out.
Sherbrooke led 16-7 at the technical time-out.
UNB was never able to recover and the visitors took the first set 25-12
In the second, the REDS showed some resilience, engaging in a back-and-forth struggle with Sherbrooke. The teams traded points through 7-7 before UNB pulled ahead 9-7.
Sherbrooke led 16-15 at the technical time-out.
The REDS hung with the Vert et Or, pulling to within a point at 23-22.
UNB then drew even at 24-24, but Sherbrooke rallied to win the set 27-25.
The back-and-forth nature of the game continued in the third set.
Tied 13-13 midway through, Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB) executed a perfect block to put the REDS in front 14-13, but it was the Vert et Or up 16-15 at the technical time-out.
Sherbrooke got a big block from Zachary Hollands (St-Christophe d'Arthabaska, QC) to go up 18-16 and bring about a REDS time-out.
Hollands then served Sherbrooke to a 23-17 lead.
UNB rallied to close the gap to 24-20, before the visitors ended the afternoon, winning the set 25-20 and the game 3-1.
"We were very confident, and things went well at the beginning and we were able to keep that momentum for the whole match," said Sherbrooke's Yoan David (Sherbrooke, QC).
He led the Vert et Or with a game-high 19 kills. Simon Dupuis Coutts (Sherbrooke, QC) had 10 digs for the visitors.
"Sometimes the score was closing up, but we were keeping pressure on them and even when they had a little reach, we were always able to get a few more points to spread the score out again," said David.
Luchese led the REDS effort with 18 kills and seven digs, while Austin Regier (Warman, SK) recorded 32 assists.
"We've got to practice harder, practice with more competition," said Luchese. "All the boys gotta want to win, that's the key and that starts in practice."
"I want to win, that's what I want, so it's really disappointing," said Luchese of the weekend. "That's got to be our strength next semester, because we don't want this to happen again, so we've got to practice even hard to come back and not be disappointed again."
Up next for the Vert et Or, a Friday date with the Carabins, at the Université de Montreal.
The REDS don't see regular season action again until January 14th, 2022, when they travel to Montreal.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics