(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS handed the U SPORTS No. 5 ranked Saint Mary's Huskies their first loss of the season on Sunday, a 3-1 REDS win on the final day of play at the 2021 Atlantic University Sport league tournament, hosted by Dalhousie.
The REDS won with scores of 27-25, 20-25, 25-16 and 25-16.
"It was a gutsy performance by our squad, coming out today after a couple of really challenging matches earlier in the weekend," said REDS head coach Richard Schick. "I felt for the first time all weekend, we were the aggressor and were able to put pressure on Saint Mary's from the get go. The Huskies are a big, talented team that plays extremely hard both offensively and defensively. We're extremely pleased with the level of consistency we were able to compete at today, which ultimately led to the result we got."
After opening with four unanswered points, Lydia Green (Bedford, NS) and Bailey Lemieux (Fredericton, NB) were among those who created a 16-13 REDS lead at the technical timeout of the first set.
Olivia Bell (Lahave, NS) picked up back-to-back kills for the Huskies coming out of the timeout and brought the REDS lead down to just one point, at 16-15.
The REDS called a timeout after Bethany Smith (Moncton, NB) scored for the Huskies and took them to a 21-19. However, after two aces from Emma Burns (Fredericton, NB), the REDS found the perfect scoring shots that helped them edge the Huskies 27-25 in the first set.
Lemieux opened the second set with back-to-back aces for the REDS, but in keeping with the theme of the first set, the score balanced out at 7-7, and the game was neck and neck heading towards the technical timeout.
However, after a fantastic serving performance for Emma Burns, as well as another ace from Lemieux, the REDS extended their lead to four points and entered the timeout up 16-12.
Bell, Smith and Mariama Syll (Charters Settlement, NB) forced the REDS to take a strategic timeout after the Huskies flipped the script on the second set and took a late 20-19 lead.
Bell and Smith combined for 10 kills through the first two sets and assisted the Huskies in winning the second set 25-20.
The REDS came out hot in the third set and immediately put together a 6-0 lead.
Behind Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB), Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) and Emma Burns, the REDS stretched out a 10-point 16-6 lead at the technical timeout.
UNB did slow down and won the third set 25-16.
Again, the REDS opened up a quick 9-3 lead over the Huskies in the fourth set, before Megan Bruhm (Hubley, NS) swung the momentum back in Saint Mary's direction with back-to-back kills. That trimmed the REDS lead to 15-11.
The REDS led 16-11 at the technical timeout.
Kristen Burns and Emma Burns had combined for a staggering 29 kills when the score reached 20-13, and the REDS were locked in top form.
UNB won the fourth set 25-16 and the game 3-1.
Kristen Burns was awarded Subway Player of the Game honors with 19 kills, 12 digs and one ace.
Both teams are now finished the 2021 portion of their schedules.
"We're still working on finding out what kind of team we are and want to become," said Schick. "We're beginning to understand how, both physically and mentally, demanding it is to be able to compete at a level that gives us the opportunity to succeed on a more consistent basis. We've had our share of both good and not so good performances this first half, and are motivated to take what we've learned to make us stronger players individually and team as a whole."
The REDS return to action on January 12th, 2022, when travel to Moncton.
The Huskies next see action on January 14th, at Acadia.
RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Dal Athletics