(FREDERICTON, N.B.) - The UNB Varsity Reds men's volleyball team got 2015 off to a good start, winning their second game against the Memorial Sea-Hawks in straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-13) and sweeping Think Pink weekend at the Richard J. Currie Center.
UNB won yesterday's game between the two teams in straight sets as well (25-17, 25-18, 25-17) and move to a record of 6-6. Memorial remains without a win in twelve games this season.
Memorial came out strong and led for the majority of the first set. But a few attack errors and a kill from V-Red Craig Toonders gave UNB a late edge in points and momentum, and they went on to take the set 25-23.
The Varsity Reds managed to keep that momentum on their side for the rest of the game and would take the next two sets, each with a higher level of confidence.
Leading the charge for Memorial was Liam Power with 11 points and Tyler Roswell with 10.5 points including nine kills. Leading scoring for UNB was Pascal McCarthy with 12 points and Craig Toonders with 11.
Subway player of the game was awarded to UNB's Marc White who had 9.5 points including eight kills and four digs. White says it felt good to come out and play a bit stronger after having some slow starts yesterday.
"We weren't quite as sharp yesterday as we wanted to be," he said. "So it was nice to come out today and play a little bit better."
According to White, that improvement can be chalked up to two things: intensity and defence.
"We let a lot of balls fall yesterday and made a lot of errors on our side of the net, so we were trying to clean that up today."
As the second half of the season kicks off, the Varsity Reds turn their focus to a singular goal - doing well at playoffs. White says he's confident the V-Reds can do well, as long as they put in the effort.
"We just gotta keep working," he said. "Gotta come to practice ready to work. Go to the gym when you've gotta go to the gym. And take care of business."
The Varsity Reds and the Sea-Hawks play next on Friday, Jan. 16, when they head to Laval for the third AUS-RSEQ interlock.
Source: UNB Sports Communications