It's been 36 days and counting since the University of New Brunswick women's volleyball team tasted triumph.
Their four-set win over the Royal Military College of Canada in preseason play on Oct. 14 seems like ages ago to the reigning Atlantic University Sport champions. Now on a five-game losing skid to open the 2011-12 campaign, the Varsity Reds are scrambling to find the win column.
Their next opportunity is, however, against the undefeated and fourth-ranked squad in the country, the Saint Mary's Huskies. The Reds (0-5) host the Huskies (5-0) at 7 p.m. tonight at the Richard J. Currie Center followed by another home matchup against the Acadia Axewomen (1-4) at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
For third-year middle player Rebecca Glancy, the team needs to bring a sense of urgency into this weekend.
"It's something that this program has never, as long as I've been on this team anyway, experienced," she said. "It's new and it's tough, and we're trying to fight through as a team and as a unit to get through this rough patch that we are experiencing."
However, the Huskies will be the biggest obstacle they've faced during the slump. SMU has conceded only four sets in five games this season. UNB has only won one.
"SMU is a very good team, a very dominant team in the years I played them at UNB," said Glancy. "I think we just have to come out with a greater fight than SMU. We can control what's on our side of the net and just do everything in our power to compete harder than they do."
The 6'2" native of Toronto said they've been working on gelling as team and working seamlessly as a group. Yet, the finish is missing. The knowledge is there; the skill is there, but the execution isn't.
The Reds have the second lowest hitting percentage at .115 and leads the AUS in errors committed with 112.
A number of changes to the roster and their home court have contributed to the slow start. Although she said there's no excuse for their play, adjusting to the Currie center has been trying.
"It is a brand new experience," Glancy said. "At our game last week, there were 900 people in the gym and we've never experienced anything like that in the Pit (Lady Beaverbrook Gym)."
The V-Reds, of course, moved to the Currie centre this season.
She said it has its perks in terms of space to track down balls, another aspect not present at their old home.
Also, the absences of veteran leaders Jill Blanchard, Erica Hay and Tanya Paulin have left gaping holes to fill on and off the court.
"It is tough because we did lose some major players," said Glancy, "but the girls are stepping up and we've got some very good leaders on this team that will hopefully help us move in a forward direction."
She said it's only a matter of time before they find their stride and, subsequently, that first win.
"I think once we start winning sets and we get to know how each other work and start executing like we can, it'll help and that'll get us moving," she said.
"We have the talent on the team; it's just getting going at this point."