(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS held off a spirited Memorial Sea-Hawks side Saturday, scoring a 3-0 win over the visitors.
UNB won with scores of 25-23, 27-25 and 25-16.
The Sea-Hawks began Saturday's match much differently than they began Friday's, earning six of the first nine points to take a 6-3 and prompting an early REDS timeout.
UNB rallied to tie the set 8-8 and then push ahead 14-8 on some strong serving from first-year hitter Lydia Green (Bedford, NS).
With the REDS up 24-17, it was Memorial that reeled off seven straight points to close to within one, before UNB finished the set 25-23.
The second set saw more back-and-forth, with neither side able to pull away.
Tied 7-7, then 12-12 and 15-15, the Sea-Hawks took a 16-15 lead into the technical timeout and scored the next two after the break. Memorial maintained that two-point edge through 20-18.
The Sea-Hawks went up 23-20 and appeared poised to grab the second set before the REDS roared to back, scoring four of the next five points to even the score 24-24.
At 25-25, Green served the final two points of the set to give UNB a 27-25 decision and a 2-0 lead.
The REDS would take more control in the third set, building an 11-6 lead. That prompted Memorial head coach John Slauenwhite to call a timeout.
UNB held a 16-10 lead at the technical timeout of the third set and powered through to the 25-16 win.
"That feels really good, to have that under our belt," said REDS hitter Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON). "But we're not done working and getting better every day and every game we have."
Burns led the REDS effort with 10 kills and 15 digs.
Green finished the day with 10 kills as well, and Katelyn Chapman (Indian Mountain, NB) added 15 digs.
Melissa Hatfield (Beaverlodge, AB) struck 10 kills for the Sea-Hawks, while Sarah Trowbridge (Sunnyside, NL) registered nine digs.
"I think we came out stronger than we did yesterday. Especially in the second set, we fought and gave it our all," said Trowbridge. "Sometimes we need to just settle in a bit more, get used to the different environments. We need to come together a bit more. Luck wasn't ours today, but we did give it our all."
With the win, the REDS even their record at 2-2, while the Sea-Hawks remain winless at 0-5.
"I think it's about setting the bar higher every game," said Burns, named Subway Player of the Game. "This is still only the second weekend of the season, so we have so much to grow and we're setting goals to get better every game."
The REDS and Sea-Hawks wrap up their three game weekend series on Sunday. First serve is scheduled for 12:00pm.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Fran Harris/for UNB Athletics