UNB takes 3-1 win over Tigers

Game recap by: Kirk Jessome

(Halfiax, NS) – In the second day of a back-to-back, the Dalhousie Tigers once again played host to the UNB Varsity Reds in afternoon volleyball action at the Dalplex. The Varsity Reds were able to fend off a late run from the Tigers in the fourth set and hold on to claim a 3-1 decision. 

UNB were able to jump ahead 3-0 early in the first set with two quick kills coming from Pascal McCarthy (Fredericton, NB), but the Tigers were able to fight back into it with a three-point run of their own led by strong defensive play with Matthew Woods (Halifax, NS) contributing on back-to-back blocks.

The Tigers gained an edge over the Varsity Reds going into the technical break 16-12 with Graham Schmuland (Calgary, AB) providing three kills and an ace to put the Tigers up. UNB fought back coming out of the break with Pascal McCarthy delivering kills, as well as causing trouble for the Tigers with his service game.

Both teams traded points back and forth, but with the score at 23-23, the Varsity Reds hit home the next two points with kills from Brad Stewart (Wolfville, NS) and Steven Randall (Hanwell, NB) to give them the 25-23 win in the first set. 

Kills were traded early in the second, but the Tigers were able to get an advantage just before the technical break with kills from Nicolas Faulkner (Truro, NS) forcing UNB to call a timeout before the technical break.

Brad Stewart and Ryan Colpitts (Fredericton, NB) kept the Varsity Reds close by delivering hard kills, and a big block from Steven Randall and Herbert Compagner (Island View, NB) forced a Tigers timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Brad Stewart delivered two quick aces to force another timeout with the Tigers lead cut to just one.

The Tigers recovered coming out of the timeout by putting together kills from Kobe Shannon (Halifax, NS) and Schmuland to put them up 22-17. Schmuland was then able to deliver a service ace, and give the Tigers the 25-18 win in the second set and tie it up.

Once again, neither team was able to gain much of an advantage early in the set, till UNB was able to make a four-point run started with a kill from Brad Stewart followed by a series of Tigers errors to put them ahead 12-9.

The Tigers pushed back with a run of their own with a nice tip from Graham Schmuland, and a strong block from setter Adam Spragg (Gilford, ON). The Tigers were able to take a slight advantage into the break, up 16-15. 

Points were traded back and forth late in the set, with UNB gaining the two-point advantage, when a hit from Matthew Donovan (London, ON) went wide to give the Varsity Reds the 25-22 win in the second set to put them up 2-1.

Two big blocks from Herbert Compagner gave UNB a slight edge early in the fourth set, as they went into the technical break up 16-13 after an emphatic kill from Ryan Colpitts.

The Varsity Reds held onto that advantage late in the set with Brad Stewart picking up an important kill, as well as contributing to a big block with Colpitts.

The Tigers made a late effort to stay alive with a kill from Kobe Shannon, and an ace from Matthew Woods, but after a timeout, Brad Stewart delivered the final kill of the match as UNB took the fourth set 25-20. 

Pascal McCarthy was named the Subway Player of the Game for his team-high 12 kills, and three service aces. Matthew Donovan led the Tigers with his game-high 13 kills, while Kobe Shannon picked up 12.

Both teams will play again next Saturday in Fredericton as their third matchup of the AUS regular season.