(MONCTON, NB) Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) posted a match-high 12 kills, Jenna Adams recorded 28 digs and both Talia Nixon (Fredericton, NB) and Lydia Green (Bedford, NS) contributed 11 kills each as the UNB REDS defeated the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Saturday, 3-1.
The REDS won with scores of 25-16, 14-25, 26-24, and 25-16.
UNB quickly established an 8-4 lead in the first set, propelled by three consecutive aces from Benko and two kills by Green.
The Aigles Bleues clawed back, collecting five of the next seven points to narrow the gap to 10-9 for UNB.
However, the REDS surged ahead with a six-point run, securing a commanding 22-15 lead.
The opening set concluded with UNB claiming a 25-16 victory, sealed by back-to-back kills from Nixon.
She led UNB with five kills in the first set, while the REDS maintained an impressive .400 hitting percentage with only three errors.
In the second set, Moncton seized an early 4-0 lead.
UNB responded by winning seven of the next 10 points, with a crucial kill from Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB) tying the game at 7-7.
Moncton then exploded with a 10-2 run, establishing an 18-10 advantage, and ultimately securing the set 25-14.
In the third set, the teams traded points initially before UNB utilized a 6-1 run to establish a 16-9 lead.
Despite Moncton's efforts to close the gap to two-points with a 6-1 run of their own, kills from Catherine Burns (Fredericton, NB) and Nixon brought UNB to set point, 24-20.
The Aigles Bleues, however, mounted a four-point run to tie the set 24-24.
Nevertheless, UNB clinched the next two points, closing the third set 26-24 with kills from Nixon and Olesen.
The fourth set was all UNB as they stormed to an early 11-3 lead.
Despite a 6-1 run from the Aigles Bleues, narrowing the score to 18-11, the REDS won seven of the next 12 points to take the set 25-16 and win the match 3-1.
With the victory, the REDS improve to 5-and-3 on the season heading into the holiday break.
UNB will return to action on Saturday, January 6, against the Saint Mary's Huskies at UNB's CURRIE CENTER.
RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Gaetan Lanteigne/for UNB Athletics