(WOLFVILLE, NS) The Acadia Axewomen turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 match win against the visiting UNB Varisty Reds in their season opening match, at home.
Peyton DeWolfe's(Bridgewater, N.S.) four kills in the first set led the way, as the Axewomen handed a confident 25-17 win over the VReds.
A scrappy Varsity Reds team, behind the kills of strong armed rookie outside hitter Adora Rooyakkers(Port Hawkesbury, NS) and rookie middle Kristen Burns(Mississauga, ON), maintained a lead for the most part of the second set, only allowing the Axewomen to tie the game three times before edging Acadia 25-22.
The Varsity Reds continued to dominate the net by tying the game at seven and then continuing to push out front by as much as 11 in the later stage of the third set. Ahead 22-11, UNB wrapped up the third game 25-15, with a kill by Lauren Joyce(Haywards Heath, UK).
Fans witnessed a much tighter fourth set, as both teams exchanged kills. A game changing kill by Subway Player of the Game Kaitlyn Franklin(Nanaimo, B.C.) gave the Axewomen an 18-15 lead that would not be narrowed until the concluding 25-18 final score.
A fifth and final set demonstrated just how close both teams played throughout the match.
Neck and neck until the final points, where Micaela Sabean's(Bridgewater, NS) kill that pushed the game to 14-12 was countered with an Acadia service error. An attack error by UNB's Rooyakkers resulted in the set winning point.
Kristen Burns was named as UNB's Subway Player of the Game for her effort. Lauren Joyce and Adora Rooyakkers led the VReds with seven and eight kills respectively.
Fiona McGuinty(Ottawa, ON)m, from the middle position, led the Axewomen with 10 kills..
The Axewomen improve to 2-5, and will head to Dalhousie (5-0) on Friday, Nov. 11th, while the Varsity Reds drop to 0-6 and will look for their first win tomorrow night, in Moncton.
RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Acadia Athletics