Shannon leads Tigers to 3-0 win

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Dalhousie Tigers scored a 3-0 straight sets win over the UNB Varsity Reds on Saturday night, in Fredericton. 

The Tigers won with scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 33-31. 

Jeffrey Walton (Sudbury, ON) led the Tigers 11 kills, while Adam Spragg (Guilford, ON) registered 28 serve assists. 

Kobe Shannon (Halifax, NS) contributed nine kills and seven digs. He was named the Subway Player of the Match. 

"Every point is a grind," he said. "We've worked a lot this season on mental toughness, and I think that's a big part of our game now. We do a lot of breathing and yoga, and I think that helps us stay mentally tough in a game like that." 

Connor McConnell (Hanwell, NB) had 11 kills for the Varsity Reds. 

Drew Duncan (Winnipeg, MB) had a match-high 12 digs and Kent Doucette (Tignish, PE) had 29 serve assists, also a match-high. 

The Tigers and V-Reds traded points through the early stages of the first set before the Tigers pulled away with a couple of short runs. A late 5-0 run gave Dal a 22-16 lead, and they never looked back, winning the opener 25-21. 

The second set was close too, neither side leading by more than two until late. Dal emerged 25-22 winners. 

UNB led the third set 16-15 at the technical time-out, and then went on a 3-0 run to extend that lead to 19-15. 

The Tigers rallied, forcing numerous ties before taking the third set 33-31. 

"Any time you lose it sucks," said Varsity Reds fifth year hitter Ryan Colpitts (Fredericton, NB). "I don't think we played anywhere near our game, so tomorrow we'll be looking to improve." 

With the win, Dalhousie is now 4-6. 

UNB is 3-7. 

The Varsity Reds and Tigers tangle again Sunday. First serve is scheduled for 2:30pm, at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center. 

"It's up to us," said Colpitts. "We need to make sure we're starting fast tomorrow, coming out and trying to improve. We need to trust our defence and trust our blocking." 

Shannon expects nothing less from the Varsity Reds. 

"We need to refocus and expect them to play tougher and come out better than they did today. We need to come out better and stronger too."