UNB Blanks Acadia

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds ended the Acadia Axewomen's two match win streak with a 3-0 win on Friday.

The Reds won with scores of 25-19, 25-16, and 25-21.

"It feels great, last time we played them we lost. It feels good coming out and getting another win," said Reds veteran hitter Victoria Eadle (Gallagher Ridge, NB).

The home team gained traction early, building a 4-1 lead before the Axewomen rebounded, pulling even, then going ahead 5-4.

The two sides then traded points, with UNB up 16-14 at the technical time-out and extending that lead to 18-14.

They traded 3-0 runs with the Reds taking a 21-17 lead.

UNB then held on, winning the opening set 25-19.

The second set saw UNB open on a 4-0 run and push their lead to 16-9 at the technical time-out.

The Axewomen tried to rally, but UNB used a 3-0 run to close out a 25-16 second set victory.

Acadia showed life in the third set, riding some strong serving by Hannah Helm (Halifax, NS) and Sydney Zakutney (Ottawa, ON) to fashion an early 6-1 lead.

The Axewomen appeared to be in control at the official's time-out, leading 16-11, but the Reds rallied with a 7-0 run, surging ahead 19-17.

Acadia was able to stop the momentum, tying the set at 19 and then 20, but they couldn't hold the Reds completely. UNB used a 5-1 run to win the third set 25-21.

"One of the key things is just to not look at the score, we just have to focus on what's coming at us next. I think we did a really good job," said Eadle. "We didn't worry about it, we just focused on our game and what we were going to do to get the next point."

Eadle led the Reds effort, recording 13 kills, including the 500^th of her Atlantic University Sport career, and eight digs. 

"I've been here, in and out, for the last six years. Just to reach that here, and this year, for me is crazy. It's a crazy milestone to reach," said Eadle.

Paige Lehto (North Vancouver, BC) had 23 assists.

Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) led the Axewomen with a match-high 14 kills, while Zakutney led both sides with 24 assists, and Taylor Collombin (Victoria, BC) added 11 digs.

"It wasn't really our starting line-up, and we really needed to have more energy and communication," said Zakutney. "I feel like when we get in our lows, it's kind of hard to come out and we just didn't have enough energy to come out of that low."

With the win, the Reds are now 7-and-6 and tied for third in the AUS standings, alongside Acadia, now 7-and-5.

"We're a team that needs to swing hard to make our points, so that's something that we're definitely going to work on for tomorrow," said Zakutney.

The Reds and Axewomen play the finale of their weekend series on Saturday. First serve is at 2:30pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics