Tigers drop 3-0 match to UNB Reds
Bruce Akubukaka had eight kills in the Tigers 3-0 loss to the UNB Reds Saturday afternoon in Fredericton.
Source: Brianna McQuillan, UNB Athletics
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds completed a weekend sweep of the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday, with a 3-0 win.
The Reds won 25-21, 25-17, and 25-18.
"Today's win felt great," said Reds outside hitter Thomas Vickers (Bible Hill, NS). "We played much better as a team, and were synced together and able to focus."
Vickers recorded seven kills and eight digs for the Reds, earning the Player of the Game award.
Connor McConnell (Hanwell, NB) and Brad Merryweather (New Maryland, NB) led the Reds, scoring 14 kills and 20 assists respectively.
Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) had 10 kills for the Reds.
Setter Quinton Dowling (Waterloo, ON) led the Tigers. He recorded a match-high 22 assists and four digs, while Bruce Aku (Winnipeg, MB) had eight kills.
After a straight-sets loss on Friday, the Tigers were in a position where they couldn't let the Reds get too far ahead. But, out of the gate, UNB was up 4-0.
After a time-out, Dal was able to get back on their feet, but UNB extended their lead to 6-3.
At the technical time-out of the first half, the Reds were up 16-11, and UNB forced the Tigers into another time-out at 20-13.
Dal fought hard, but the Reds held strong and took the first set 25-21.
With a strong rally to start the second, the Reds took control, jumping out to an early 7-1 lead.
Tynan Murphy (Montague, PE) was strong at the net for UNB, ending numerous Dal scoring opportunities.
The Tigers rallied, but were unable to catch the Reds, who took a 16-8 lead into the technical time-out.
The Reds would not let Dal get any footing in the second, and took the set 25-17.
"They, UNB, are a good team, but we could have definitely put a better performance in," said Dowling.
In the third, the Tigers showed some signs of life, trailing by a single point early, down 4-5.
But the Reds countered almost every point Dal put on the board, taking a 16-12 lead to the time-out.
Dal came back and put two points on the board after the time-out, but UNB the pushed their lead to 18-15.
Brad Stewart (Wolfville, NS) struck the final kill for UNB in a 25-18 set win and the 3-0 victory.
"We just were not prepared enough to go to battle with UNB this weekend," said Dowling. "I'm looking forward to getting back in the gym and working hard."
Things don't get any easier for the Tigers.
They host Laval, next Friday and Saturday.
The Reds welcome Montreal to UNB's Richard J. Currie Center on November 22nd and 23rd.