UNB Completes Sweep Of Sea-Hawks

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds completed a weekend sweep of the Memorial Sea-Hawks, scoring a straight-sets win on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds won with scores of 25-10, 25-13 and 25-11.

"We worked hard and stayed focused and tried to stay in our system," said Reds third year middle Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON).

Burns scored seven points in UNB's win, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.

"We're putting hard work in at the gym every day and we're trying to stay at our level and play our game, every game, no matter who we're playing against," she said.

With the win, UNB mathematically clinches at least third place in the Atlantic University Sport standings.

The Sea-Hawks scored the first point of the match, but UNB rebounded, building an early 8-3 first set lead before a brief Memorial rally.

The Reds then rode some solid play by fifth-year hitter Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Kelowna, BC) to extend their lead to 17-7 on route to a 25-10 opening set victory.

The Reds continued to roll in the second set, opening on a 5-0 run.

Down 10-2, Memorial called time-out, but that did little to help the young Sea-Hawks, and UNB tacked on three more points before the visitors countered.

The Reds led 16-3 at the technical time-out of the second set.

That break appeared to settle the Sea-Hawks, and they traded the next five points with UNB, closing to within 20-9.

The Reds pulled away from that point, winning 25-13 and taking a two sets to none lead.

In the third, Memorial went up 5-3 early, their first lead since scoring the opening point of the match.

But a 9-0 Reds run put any comeback hopes out of reach. UNB surged ahead 12-5 and never looked back.

The Reds won the third set 25-11, taking the match 3-0.

"We are super young right now, we are re-building. It takes time," said Sea-Hawks assistant coach Jill Snow. "There were moments of brightness and brilliance, but there were errors that you make in your early years and I can say that I made the same errors in my early years."

Kaitlyn Kuchinka (Edmonton, AB) led the Sea-Hawks with four kills and six digs.

Catherine Burns (Fredericton, NB) led the Reds with a match-high 23 serve assists, while Maggie McLenahan (Oromocto, NB) recorded a match-high 11 digs.

The loss brings the Sea-Hawks season to an end.

They finish with a 1-and-18 record.

The Reds are now 11-7.

UNB hosts the Dalhousie Tigers on Friday, in the Reds regular season finale. Game time is 6:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics