Written by Thomas Scott

[HALIFAX NS] – The Dalhousie Tigers bounced back from a Friday 3-0 loss, as they defeated the University of New Brunswick Reds 3-1 on Saturday at Dalplex.

The Reds began the first set with a 5-1 lead. Josh DeYoung (Cole Harbour, NS) spiked it to cut the lead to 5-2. Michael Donovan (London, ON) was dominant for the Tigers, who scored 23 kills in the match. Donovan had several monster spikes in the first set, including one which tied the set 12-12.

Jacob Harris (Clarenville, NL) grabbed the lead for the Reds, making it 21-19 late in the set. Harrs finished the match with 14 kills. It was back and forth for the rest of the set, as it ended with UNB hitting the net without the ball getting over, giving the Tigers a 28-26 win.

UNB started the second set hot, getting out to a 4-0 lead. Holden Cadden (Fall River, NS) had a powerful spike to give the Reds a 6-2 lead. 

Sartaj Sidhu (Calgary, AB) scored an ace, tying the set 9-9 and getting the Tigers back on level terms. It would remain a tight set, as it was later tied 16-16. Once again, it was back and forth for the rest of the set. Rafael Hilario (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) had several spikes that the Tigers could not handle down the stretch of the set, as the Reds won the set 28-26. Hilario finished the match with 16 kills.

Set three was once again a nail-biter. UNB took an early 11-5 lead. Jacob Oyler (Halifax, NS) gave the Tigers a 20-19 lead later in the set with a monster spike. It would go back and forth for the rest of the set, and it would be a UNB error, which helped Dal grab the set 28-26.

The fourth set would not be as tight and competitive as the previous sets. Oyler's spike would give the Tigers a 12-7 lead, as he finished the match with 18 kills.

Donovan gave the Reds a spike, which was too hot to handle, giving the Tigers a 19-10 lead. Donovan ended the game with a powerful strike, which deflected off of UNB to win the set 25-17, winning the match 3-1 in favour of the Tigers.