(FREDERICTON, NB) The Laval Rouge et Or ended the UNB REDS 2022-23 RSEQ men's volleyball season with a 3-0 victory on Saturday.
Laval won 25-19, 25-23 and 25-19 to sweep the two-game weekend series.
The visitors were aggressive in the first set, building an early 6-3 lead only to see the REDS rally to tie it 6-6.
Unfazed, Laval then built a 15-10 lead and extended that to 20-13, prompting a REDS time-out.
Down 23-16, the REDS put three straight points together to make it 23-19, forcing Laval to take a time-out.
Out of the break, the Rouge et Or closed out the set, winning 25-19.
In the second set, the REDS rode some strong defensive play and a Noah Boudreau (Greenfield, NS) block to a 6-2 lead.
Later, a Boudreau kill pushed UNB's lead to 9-3.
Back-to-back-to-back Laval errors gave the REDS a 13-3 advantage.
The Rouge et Or fought back, closing the gap to a single point at 18-17 before a Shamus Cormier (Bathurst, NB) kill returned UNB's two point lead.
The REDS held a slim 23-22 lead before Laval scored three straight points to register a 25-23 victory.
In the third set, the teams continued to go toe-to-toe.
UNB held a 10-9 lead before Laval tied the set 14-14.
Laval then took an 18-15 lead.
Strong serving by Charles St-Aubin (Joliette, QC) pushed Laval's lead to 20-15 on route to a 25-19 set win and the match.
"The energy was better today," said Laval middle and team captain Jonathan Girard (Donnacona, QC). "We were more clean and in better position throughout."
"It was two big matches here and we were excited to play here," he added. "I'm glad we were better today."
"We were a little late starting," said REDS head coach Dan McMorran. "We hit at a fairly good level, and I thought we got to a good level of play in the third set. The reason we lose today is we're losing pieces of sets because of taking our foot of the gas at certain times or not being able to execute all the way through a set. In a tough conference like the RSEQ, that's the difference."
The REDS' season is now over. They finish 0-16 and will miss the RSEQ playoffs.
"We're disappointed," admitted McMorran. "We've got a lot of young guys that understand this season wasn't scripted the way we wanted it to be, but we have guys who are eager to get back in the gym next week and we've got a fantastic recruiting class. You don't predict seasons like this, but to use the old cliché, I think we're going to be stronger on the other side of this."
The Rouge et Or close out their regular season schedule on Febuary 19th at the Université de Montreal.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics