REDS Upset No. 10 Axewomen

(WOLFVILLE, NS) The UNB REDS knocked off the U SPORTS No. 10 ranked Acadia Axewomen 3-2 on Saturday.

The REDS won with scores of 22-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21 and 15-9, ending Acadia's four-game season opening win streak.

It was a game of two halves.

The Axewomen took the first set 25-22. It featured some great performances from middle blocker Erica Fisher (Middle Stewiacke, NS), who finished with eight kills, four aces and three blocks, and setter/outside hitter Sydney Zakutney (Ottawa, ON), who finished with nine kills, 11 assists and 13 digs.

The Axewomen won the second set 25-18.

All seemed to be going Acadia's way until an opportunistic UNB team was able to jump on some sloppy play by the Axewomen and close the third set 25-23.

Subway Player of the Game, outside hitter Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) finished with 16 kills and eight digs.

With great defense, and capitalizing on their opportunities offensively, the REDS squeaked out a 25-21 win to extend the match to a fifth and final set. Libero Katelyn Chapman (Indian Mountain, NB) was all over the court for UNB, collecting 20 digs.

In the fifth set, UNB pulled out to an early 3-1 lead that was extended to a 9-6 advantage. The REDS would not give up a lead in the final frame and would capture the match on a 15-9 final set win.

The story of the game was inconsistency on the part of the Axewomen, who looked brilliant at times, but were too often on the end of unforced errors or free ball passes.

The REDS, for their part, looked much stronger than they did a day earlier, handing Acadia their first loss this season.

The Axewomen and REDS are in Halifax next weekend, taking part in the AUS league tournament at Dalhousie. Acadia opens against Saint Mary's, on Friday, at 3:00 pm. The REDS will take on Memorial, on Friday, at 5:00 pm.

RECAP BY: Severin Golla/for Acadia Athletis

PHOTOS BY: Peter Oleskevich/for Acadia Athletics