REDS Drop 3-2 Affair At Laval

(QUEBEC CITY, QC) The UNB REDS came close Friday night, but close wasn't enough.

The REDS came up on the short end of a 3-2 decision in their first game of a weekend series against the Laval Rouge et Or, in Quebec City.

It was as close a match as either team had played all season.

The first set saw some extended runs for each team, but it was largely a back-and-forth affair that the home team won 27-25.4

The next two sets were just as closely contested as the first, with UNB emerging with 25-23 wins each time, taking a 2-1 lead.

The second set saw UNB score four of the final five points to close out the set and the REDS used a 4-0 run to close out the third set.

Laval rode a 6-0 run to come from behind and win the fourth set, tying the match 2-2 and setting the stage for a marathon deciding set.

The back-and-forth play continued as the teams tied at 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 before Laval scored the final two points for a 26-24 set win and the 3-2 match victory.

"This was a tough loss," said REDS' head coach Dan McMorran. "We put ourselves in a position to win the match in four, against a very strong team on their home court, and having lost that set, then clawed back in the fifth with several opportunities to win again. We're simply not executing at key moments, and we're not getting away with it with the caliber of our opponents."

Jacob Harris (Clarenville, NL) led the REDS attack with 18 kills while Rafael Hilario (Rio de Janeiro, BRA) and Nick Glynn (Fredericton, NB) contributed 15 and 14 respectively.

Lucas Maffia (Victoria, BC) registered a game-high 12 digs and had 51 assists.

Veteran Laval hitter Nicolas Fortin (Clermont, QC) struck a game-high 39 kills while Patrick Minville (Quebec City, QC) had nine digs.

"The positive is that we're playing at a very high level at times," said Coach McMorran. "The next step for us is to turn that into wins and tomorrow we hope to give ourselves that opportunity."

The loss drops UNB's record to 2-and-7.

The REDS are in a three-way tie for third place in the RSEQ standings.

Laval improves to 7-and-2.

The REDS and Rouge et Or conclude their weekend series on Saturday. First serve is schedule for 3:30pm Atlantic time.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

FILE PHOTO BY: James West/for UNB Athletics