Last Week:
The Varsity Reds trained all week before leaving late Friday morning for the long bus drive to Sydney, NS. The team played at Cape Breton Saturday afternoon before travelling back as far as New Glasgow Saturday evening in preparation for the match at STFX on Sunday afternoon. For the first time all season the V-Reds dressed all thirteen players as fourth-year setter Alyson Clow (Kensington, PEI) returned from being out for five weeks with mononucleosis.
UNB 3 @ CBU 2 (27-29, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 16-14)
Game Notes:
-5th year left-side Erica Hay (Sussex, NB) was the top scorer in the match while adding 20 kills, 5 service aces, 12 digs, passed 2.36 and hit an impressive .351%.
-5th year left-side Jill Blanchard (Saint John, NB) had 17 kills and 10 digs, while 2nd year setter Amanda Bakker (Winnipeg, MB) had 38 assists.
-After trailing 11-18 in game one, the V-Reds actually fought back to hold game point three times before CBU took the game 29-27.
UNB 2 @ STFX 3 (25-14, 16-25, 21-25, 26-24, 16-18)
Game Notes:
-5th year left-side Jill Blanchard was the V-Reds top scorer with 14 kills, 18 points and 16 digs.
-5th year left-side Erica Hay had another strong showing with 12 kills while 2nd year setter Amanda Bakker finished with 36 assists.
-UNB held match point four times at 14-12, 14-13, 15-14 and 16-15 before STFX took the game 18-16 and the match 3-2,
Other Conference Results:
SAINT MARY’S 3 @ DALHOUSIE 2
MONCTON 3 @ STFX 2
ACADIA 2 @ SAINT MARY’S 3
MONCTON 0 @ CBU 3
Coach’s Comments:
“We didn’t start with a lot of energy on Saturday at CBU, but recovered and got better as the day went on. Our middles need to have more of a presence, especially against a team with two very good ones to counter balance that aspect. I thought Erica really led us in so many ways and was a big reason we were able to find a way to get a win. We had a much better start on Sunday, however we still lacked any type of middle presence early in the match. I thought the fourth and fifth sets were two of our best played games we were in all weekend. To have match point four times and not get it was frustrating but I give our girls credit as we didn’t back off, STFX made plays, which if you’re going to lose is the way you want to go down. So far our conference is as advertised ... six matches on the opening weekend and five end up 3-2.”
UNB Team Record:
Conference Play 1 – 1
Non-CIS Exhibition Play 1 – 0
CIS Exhibition Play 6 – 4
Playoff Results 0 – 0
Overall Record 8 – 5
Upcoming:
The Varsity Reds will now take a few days off before training throughout the week concluding in a much needed weekend off next weekend. The following week UNB will once again be on the court to train as they prepare to open at home for conference matches against the Memorial Seahawks on Saturday (November 6th) at 7:00pm and Sunday (November 7th) at 11:00am. It will be the V-Reds only two matches at home before the Christmas break and both matches will be (as will all home matches this season) webcast free of charge live on www.ssncanada.ca