REDS Ready To Face No. 1 Vert Et Or
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s volleyball team is preparing to face the top team in the country this weekend.
The REDS host the Sherbrooke Vert et Or in a pair of RSEQ matches, Friday night at 6:00pm and Saturday at 1:00pm, at UNB’s Richard J. Currie Center.
“The team is feeling motivated and excited to be able to play against such a great opponent,” said setter Lucas Maffia. “We know that we’re ready for the challenge and to have a successful weekend.”
“I think our team is in a good spot right now,” added REDS’ head coach Dan McMorran. “We’ve had to battle all season in a very tough conference to even get into a playoff position, and we’ve had to constantly be sharp and ready to adapt, which has been evident with the variety of lineups we’ve used throughout the season.”
The U SPORTS No. 1 ranked Vert et Or enter the weekend series with a 12-1 record.
Their only loss, so far, came November 29th when they dropped a 3-2 decision at Laval.
The REDS are 7-7 and are currently tied for second in the RSEQ standings with Laval.
“We’re playing an excellent and seasoned Sherbrooke team, with the possibility of drawing them in the first round of the playoffs as well,” said McMorran. “All aspects of our game will need to be great, but we’ll need to continue to lead the conference in the block-defence game and be good behind the service line.”
The REDS lead the RSEQ in digs and blocks and are No. 6 in blocks in U SPORTS and No. 1 in the country in blocks per set. Individually, second year REDS’ middle Lex Guimond currently leads U SPORTS with 1.25 blocks per set.
The Vert et Or lead the conference in hitting percentage, kills, service aces, and assists. In the service aces category, Sherbrooke is the second-ranked team in U SPORTS.
“We’re happy to play the number one team and we definitely respect them,” said veteran hitter Eduardo Luchese. “We have a goal this weekend, we want to make sure we play our best possible games so we have a chance to win.”
“Winning against the number one team would be a strong statement of how hard we've been working,” said Luchese. “But it's going to be a battle, so I think it's important that we remember that those are the moments that we've been working for.”
In two previous matches this season, at Sherbrooke, the REDS fell 3-0 and 3-2.
Coach McMorran believes home court, and the REDS hosting their annual Alumni Weekend, could be an advantage.
“We’re so fortunate to have both the best fans and best alumni in the conference,” he said. “When you add the fact that we play in the best facility in the conference, it makes our home matches very special and a place where our guys draw a lot of confidence from.”
“It definitely makes a difference playing at home,” added Luchese. “The pre-game light show, the crowd, our gym, all these elements are fire to our confidence, and they always help to step up our game.”
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
FILE PHOTO BY: James West/for UNB Athletics