Tigers outlast REDS in 5-set thriller

Written by Ryan Hyndman

The Dalhousie Tigers men's volleyball team defeated the UNB Reds 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-12) in Halifax on Friday evening in game one of the weekend doubleheader

The first set got off to a fairly even to start with the teams trading points until it was 3-3. From there it was all Tigers with Quinton Dowling (Waterloo, ON) capping off a four-point run, making it 7-3. Dalhousie continued to roll as Michael Donovan (London, ON) capped off another run with a solid kill to make it 14-5, looking to take a quick one-set lead. A big block from Rafael Hilario (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) saw the REDS cut the lead in half down to 15-10 for the Tigers, as UNB tried to fight back. Getting it as close as four points, the REDS fought, but the Tigers closed out the first set 25-20 with a kill from Donovan for a 1-0 set lead.

The Tigers got off to a quick start with the Tigers getting up 6-2, before the REDS battled back to cut the lead to two points at 9-7. The two-point gap would remain pretty well through the whole set, as the teams went point for point with each other until the REDS finally got the set within one at 21-20, looking to stop the Tigers from taking a 2-0 set lead. UNB continued to roll getting up to a 23-21 lead. Hilario had big kill for a 25-22 set win, tying the match 1-1

Tigers got off to a quick start, getting up to a 11-6 lead thanks to a Justin Cross (Winnipeg, MB) kill. Dalhousie continued to roll growing the lead to 19-11. Not ready to go away, the REDS fought back to 19-15, before Cross would get the Tigers back in the board making it 20-15. A nice hit from Lucas Condon-Oldreive (Halifax, NS) would win the second set for the Tigers, to take a 2-1 lead headed to the fourth.

It was back and forth once again to start the fourth, as the teams kept alternating points until it was 5-4 Dalhousie. Just moments later, a few unforced errors by the Tigers, would see the REDS regain the read at 7-6. By midway through the set, it was still close as ever. The teams were tied 13-13 with the Tigers looking to close it out and REDS looking to extend the comeback effort. The Tigers started to gain some distance, going up 17-14. The tides quickly turned, and it was all REDS, going on a huge run to take the fourth set and force a deciding fifth set.

After winning the fourth, the REDS didn't start well, as Dalhousie got up 8-5 with both teams fighting to 15 points. From there the REDS battled to bring the set within one point, where like much of the match, the teams battled back and forth. Finally, Donovan put it away with a massive kill to give the Tigers a 3-2 victory.

Lucas Condon-Oldreive took home the Player of the Game for the Dalhousie Tigers.

The REDS fall to 0-13 on the season and will look to rebound tomorrow for a rematch against the Tigers.

The Dalhousie Tigers improve to 3-10 and will look for back-to-back wins against the REDS when they meet again on Saturday.