(Halifax, N.S.) – In an exciting back-and-forth contest, the Dalhousie Tigers were able to knock off the visiting UNB Varsity Reds 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17) on Saturday night at the Dalplex.
Setters Abby Czenze (Halifax, NS) and Courtney Baker (Bridgewater, NS) led the way for Dalhousie. Czenze finished with 27 assists, six digs and one service ace, while Baker was efficient at the line with six kills, as well as six assists and six digs.
Middle hitter Lauren Joyce (Haywards Heath, UK) and outside hitter Adora Rooyakkers (Port Hawkesbury, NS) were the standout performers for the Varsity Reds. Joyce ended the game with two assisted blocks, one solo block and five kills, while Rooyakkers had five kills and three digs.
The teams traded momentum in the first set, before Dalhousie began to take over after a team timeout down 7-6. They would string together five straight points and wouldn't surrender the lead for the remainder of the set.
Six different players would record at least one kill in a 25-18 set victory.
The Varsity Reds received admirable play from middle hitter Robyn Anderson (Fernie, BC) who recorded five digs to keep multiple sets alive, however four service errors would cost the visitors from sustaining any form of long-term momentum.
Dalhousie got out to an early 7-0 lead in the second set, only to see UNB fight their way back and close the gap to 15-13, as well as 21-19, thanks to six impressive digs from libero Maggie McLenahan (Oromocto, NB).
The Tigers would eventually pull away with the 25-19 set win however, getting a massive contribution from first-year middle hitter Hannah Aldcorn (Calgary, AB), who came off the bench to record three kills as well as one solo block.
The third set would see the teams deadlocked at eight, before the Tigers slowly began to seize the momentum off a service ace which made the score 9-8. Dalhousie would go on to score 16 of the next 25 points en route to a 25-17 set win.
Outside hitter Anna Dunn-Suen (Halifax, NS) was critical towards the end, finishing with four of her eight kills in the third set.
The Subway Players of the Game were Czenze for Dalhousie and Joyce for UNB.
With the win, Dalhousie moves to 4-0 while UNB falls to 0-4.
UNB's next contest is tomorrow afternoon against Memorial in the final day of tournament play at the Dalplex, while The Tigers face off against Acadia at 3 p.m.
By: Mike Still, Dalhousie Athletics