Varsity Reds Drop Five Set Match To Axewomen
UNB falls to 0-9
(FREDERICTON, NB) The visiting Acadia Axewomen kept the UNB Varsity Reds from winning their first match of the season, taking a five set decision 3-2.
Acadia won 22-25, 25-16, 17-25, 25-23 and 15-13.
Lauryn Renzella(Stouffville, ON) led the Axewomen with 14 kills, while Daniella Trodel(Richmond Hill, ON) had a game-high 28 digs.
Megan Kuciak(Ottawa, ON) had 12 kills for the Varsity Reds, while Maggie McLenahan(Oromocto, NB) recorded 16 digs.
Acadia went on an early 5-0 run in the first set, before the Varsity Reds could begin to reel them back in.
A kill and an ace by first year middle Julia Diemert(Egbert, ON) sealed a 25-22 first set victory for UNB.
Renzella led the Acadia attack in the second set, serving to pull the Axewomen ahead 10-8 before Peyton DeWolfe(Bridgewater, NS) served four straight points.
Acadia took the second set 25-16.
The Varsity Reds appeared poised to pull away in the third, scoring a 25-17 win. But they couldn't sustain the momentum, dropping a close fourth set 25-22.
The deciding set was close too, with the teams tying 5-5, 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 before a Renzella kill ended the UNB hopes.
"I'm happy with the overall win, but process things, not so much," said Axewomen head coach Michelle Wood. "There are some things in there that definitely need tidying up, if we want to be a contender within the AUS."
"We expected to win this match, so it's upsetting," said Maggie McLenahan, the Varsity Reds' libero. Despite the loss, she saw positives in the improving play of some of her young teammates. "They're stepping up. Every game is better for each and every one of them. We're just going to keep improving from here."
With the win, Acadia's record improves to 3-6.
The Varsity Reds remain winless, at 0-9.
Despite another loss, UNB interim head coach James Cress remains hopeful.
"We did a much better job of breaking momentum when we started to slide, and getting it back and re-focusing," he said.
The Axewomen are back in action Sunday, when they visit Moncton.
The Varsity Reds have reached the end of their first half.
They resume play January 13th, when they host Moncton.