REDS Win In Straight Sets

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS scored a straight-sets win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action, Friday night in Halifax.

UNB won with scores of 25-21, 25-23, and 25-17.

Lydia Green and Isla Olesen led the REDS offensively with nine kills each. Green added seven digs and a pair of blocks.

Talia Nixon registered 29 assists, and Heather Benko had six kills, seven digs, and seven service aces, six of which were served in the third set.

"Tonight's match was truly in our hands," said Benko. "We committed to staying aggressive, to our game plan, and used everything SMU sent over the net as fuel to fire us up."

As a team, the REDS served 17 total aces. Sonya Nielsen had four of them.

Jenna Adams recorded 17 digs for the REDS who improved to 4-and-0 with the victory.

Emilia Mikanovich had 10 kills for the Huskies and Esther Wildeboer had 10 digs.

"We did a great job competing throughout the entire match and staying aggressive on every play," said REDS' head coach Lauren Hale-Miller. "This team is continuously raising the standard of play, all while having fun and enjoying the process."

With the win, the REDS assume a share of top spot in the AUS standings, tied with the Huskies who are now 4-and-1.

"I think our team's unified mindset was our biggest strength tonight, and going into tomorrow, I know we'll work hard to execute that again," said Benko. "Personally, I focused on attacking everything I touched with 100-percent effort, and that energy helped lift our momentum and dominate in the third set."

The REDS and Huskies will square off again Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS

PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz/for SMU Athletics