REDS Down Carabins

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS returned to the win column Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Univeristé de Montreal Carabins in RSEQ men's volleyball action at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.

The REDS won 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, and 25-21.

"It was nice to get the win, especially here at home," said REDS' second-year middle Lex Guimond (Baie Sainte-Anne, NB). "The boys came out to play today and it was a great way to get win and we'll keep on going from here."

The first set saw even, back-and-forth play for the first two dozen points as two high-powered attacks went toe to toe.

Montreal pulled ahead 16-11 mid-way through, but the REDS put together a 3-0 run to pull to within two, at 17-15.

Down the stretch, the Carabins pulled away for a 25-22 opening set victory.

The second set started much the same as the first, with both sides trading points and neither able to extend their lead significantly.

When UNB made it 10-7, the Carabins called time-out.

The REDS were able to hold the lead the rest of the way, scoring a 25-23 set win.

In the third set, the teams continued their back-and-forth battle until the REDS fashioned a 16-12 lead on the strength of two big blocks by Guimond.

Montreal battled right back, closing the gap to 16-15 and forcing a REDS time-out.

Out of the break, the REDS went back to work, building a 22-18 lead on route to a 25-19 win.

In the fourth, Guimond continued to lead the REDS with key blocks and a nifty put-back kill to help UNB go ahead 11-7 and 13-9 before Montreal rallied with a 4-0 run to even the set 13-13.

With a timely block on one point and a kill to score the next, Kieran Brost (Dartmouth, NS) gave the REDS a 19-16 lead and UNB went on to a 25-21 win, taking the match three sets to one.

"Execution was a little better today and the boys were pumped to get win over these guys, especially after last night. We really wanted that," said Guimond.

Guillaume Bisson (Rouyn-Noranda, QC) led Montreal with 15 kills, while Alexandre St-Denis (Ottawa, ON) registered a game-high 18 digs.

For the REDS, Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) had a game-high 18 kills and 13 digs. He was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game.

Lucas Maffia (Victoria, BC) had a game-high 46 assists and 14 digs while Guimond finished with 10 blocks.

"It energizes the team," said Guimond, of a big block. "It energizes the boys, and just being a presence at the net, letting the other team know that nothing is coming easy."

With the win, UNB is now 3-and-1. They host Laval next, in a weekend series that begins Friday at 6:00pm.

The Carabins return home and will host Dalhousie on Saturday.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics