(FREDERICTON, NB) The Dalhousie Tigers beat the UNB REDS 3-1 Saturday to salvage a split of their two-match RSEQ weekend series.
The Tigers won with scores of 17-25, 29-27, 25-20 and 25-23.
"I think it was just our mentality," said Tigers' fourth-year blocker Malachy Shannon (Halifax, NS). "We're fighting for our season here, so we've got to win from here on out."
The opening set saw surges from both teams.
The REDS built an early 4-2 lead, but the Tigers rallied and pulled even at 6-6.
UNB then put together a 4-0 run, taking a 10-6 lead.
Dal pulled to within a point at 14-13, but the REDS, on the strength of a massive Jacob Harris (Clarenville, NL) block, took a 16-13 led to the technical timeout of the first set.
The REDS extended their lead to six, at 20-14, before winning it 25-17.
"I don't think we've won a first set all season," said Shannon. "So, it was kind of like, let's move past it, we know what happens, we just tried to get the win from there."
The Tigers were able to rebound in the second set, building a 5-3 lead and forcing the REDS to play catch-up.
UNB stayed close though, tying the score 9-9 before Dal went back in front 11-9.
The Tigers led 16-14 at the technical timeout, but the REDS rallied to tie the score 18-18.
Dal then pulled ahead 20-18, only to commit back-to-back errors and allow the hosts to pull even at 20.
The two sides then engaged in a marathon back-and-forth, tying at 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 before the Tigers connected points to win the set 29-27.
Dal rode momentum in the third set, building an early lead and holding it through the technical timeout, up 16-14.
Dal pushed their lead to 22-17 and, with a nifty Shannon put-back, won the third set 25-20.
The REDS took back some of that momentum to start the fourth set, scoring the first two points.
Dal fought back, taking a 5-4 lead before UNB rallied to build a 9-6 advantage.
The Tigers then scored seven consecutive points, taking a 13-9 lead on their way to leading 16-12 at the technical timeout.
UNB would fight back to within one more than once, but the Tigers held, winning the set 25-23 and taking the match 3-1.
"It's not the outcome that we wanted," said REDS hitter Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB). "They played well today. We have to give them credit. They came out better than yesterday and I don't think we were expecting it as much as we should've."
Setter Quinton Dowling (Waterloo, ON) led the Dal effort, recording 53 assists and 12 digs.
Michael Donovan (London, ON) had a game-high 23 kills, while Justin Cross (Winnipeg, MB) added 13 digs.
Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil) led the REDS with 21 kills and 10 digs, while Scott Mann (Winnipeg, MB) registered a game-high 17 digs.
"I thought we passed just as good as yesterday," said Glynn. "We just didn't find a way to execute as much as we should have to get the win."
UNB and Dal are both 2-and-8, and fighting for the fourth and final RSEQ playoff berth.
The REDS and Tigers will meet each other again, next Saturday, February 26th, at the Dalplex, in Halifax. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics