REDS Ready For RSEQ Playoffs

(FREDERICTON, NB) After a third-place finish in the RSEQ regular season, the UNB REDS men’s volleyball team is headed for a showdown with second-place Laval in the conference semi-finals.

All three games of the best of three series will be played in Quebec City.

After splitting their regular season series with the Rouge et Or, the REDS’ confidence is high.

“The parity among the four teams in the playoffs is the closest it’s been in years,” said REDS’ head coach Dan McMorran. “We’ve split matches at home and away with Laval this season, so we know we’re capable and are excited for this matchup.”

UNB finished the regular season with an 8-8 record while the Rouge et Or were 9-7.

The REDS won and lost home games with the Rouge et Or in November and won and lost at Laval in January.

Veteran outside hitter Eduardo Luchese says the relatively young REDS will have to be consistent if they hope to be successful.

“Our team is young and sometimes we struggle with some ups and downs, so if we’re able to be consistent during the weekend, I believe we will have a good chance.”

This series is a re-match of last season’s semi-final series that Laval swept with 3-2 and 3-1 wins over UNB.

“We need to work as a team,” said Luchese. “Hopefully, we’ll play a great level of volleyball, have fun, and come back with two wins.”

Since joining the RSEQ in 2018-2019, the REDS have yet to win a conference playoff series, so two wins this weekend would be historic.

“Although we’ve been close in previous playoffs, we’ll have to do something we’ve yet to accomplish since joining the RSEQ, and that’s to win a playoff series on the road,” said Coach McMorran. “To do this our block-defense and serve will need to continue to generate good scoring opportunities and we’ll need a high-level of execution on offense.”

The series begins Friday night (Feb. 21) at 8:00pm Atlantic time. Game two, scheduled to start at 8:30pm AST, will go the following night. If necessary, a third game is scheduled for Sunday (Feb. 23) at 3:00pm AST.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Coach McMorran.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

FILE PHOTO BY: James West/for UNB Athletics