RECAP BY: Madison Tucker/UNB Athletics
(FREDERICTON, NB) Rafael Hilario (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) landed 23 kills as the UNB REDS defeated the Dalhousie Tigers in four sets in Friday night's game at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.
The REDS won in an intense 3-1 match with scores of 26-28, 25-18, 28-26, and 25-17.
Hilario led UNB in kills and was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. Jacob Harris (Clarenville, NL) added 14 kills and Lucas Maffia (Victoria, BC) contributed 51 assists for the REDS.
Michael Donovan (London, ON) led the Tigers with 19 kills and two service aces.
The REDS started hot, with Lex Guimond (Baie-Sainte Anne, NB) landing a kill shot just within the court boundaries to take a 7-3 lead to open the first set.
The Tigers returned, tying the match 14-14 after Donovan found an open count to land the kill.
Both teams alternated the lead through the rest of the set. Despite Harris' three kills, putting the REDS up 25-24, a block by Tigers Donovan closed out the set 28-26.
The REDS started the second set on a seven-point steak with kills from Hilario and Harris, to jump out to an early 7-1 lead.
UNB controlled the pace throughout the set. A block by Maffia and a set-ending kill from Hilario gave the REDS a 25-18 set victory.
In the third, the REDS kept tight with the Tigers through the first half of the set, but with exceptional attacking, Dalhousie remained in the lead.
Back-to-back kills from Donovan separated the teams 17-14 in favour of the visitors.
A block from Maffia and Shamus Cormier (Bathurst, NB) gave the REDS their first lead in the set 25-24.
With a kill from Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB) giving a final push, the REDS came from behind, winning the set 28-26.
The REDS used their momentum, grabbing an early 9-5 lead with a kill from Hilario to start the fourth set.
Two kills from Hilario, and a service ace from Guimond gave the REDS a four-point run, bringing the lead to 16-8.
The REDS held the lead, finishing the set 25-17 with a service ace from Guimond, winning the game, 3-1.
The Tigers and REDS continue their weekend series on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 3:00 pm.