Bobcats Claw Past REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Brandon Bobcats rallied to beat the UNB REDS 3-2 in U SPORTS exhibition men's volleyball on Thursday evening at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.

Brandon won with scores of 27-25, 17-25, 17-25, 25-22 and 15-12.

"In the first set we had opportunities to win and didn't win the first set," said REDS' head coach Dan McMorran. "And late in the fourth, we had opportunities to close it out and didn't and again in the fifth, but we didn't execute down the stretch."

In the opening set, newcomers Lex Guimond (Baie-Sainte Anne, NB) and Lucas Maffia (Victoria, BC) figured prominently as the REDS built a 10-8 lead.

Neither team appeared willing to give ground and neither was able to establish a significant advantage on the scoreboard.

The close play continued, with the Bobcats scoring the final two points of the set to score the 27-25 victory.

In the second set, the REDS were quick to respond, establishing an early 5-1 lead.

UNB pushed the lead to 9-4 and then 17-7 on the strength of a Shamus Cormier (Bathurst, NB) kill and a Maffia ace.

The Bobcats would trim the UNB lead to six, at 23-17, but that's as close as they would get, and the REDS took the second 25-17.

UNB continued to build momentum in the third, taking an early 7-2 lead before a Brandon time-out.

The REDS extended the lead to 18-13 on route to another 25-17 set win and a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth, the Bobcats refused to let the REDS run away and the two teams traded points until Paycen Warkentin (Gladstone, MB) set a pair of big blocks that put the visitors up 21-19.

The REDS drew even 21-21, but the Bobcats wouldn't be denied, winning the set 25-22 to tie the match at two sets apiece.

In the deciding set, the REDS raced out to a 3-0 lead before Brandon rallied to tie the score 4-4.

UNB was up 8-5 at the switch but couldn't hold off the Bobcats who won 15-12.

"We have a bad habit of going to five a lot, so we've been here in this situation a lot so it's always fun," said Bobcats' hitter Riley Grusing (Bragg Creek, AB). He led the Brandon attack with a game-high 17 kills and was named the Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "It was good. There was good compete from both sides. It's good to have to fight, it's more preparation for the regular season."

Rafael Hilario (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) led the REDS with 16 kills while Emil Pedersen (Slagelse, Denmark) added 13. Scott Mann (Winnipeg, MB) registered a game-high 11 digs for UNB.

"We're all about making sure that tomorrow is better than today," said Coach McMorran. "We'll have a chat about certain spots and hopefully we can play at the same level, because we played at a good level tonight."

The REDS will host the Bobcats again on Friday.

First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics