Reds Beat Moncton 3-0

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds scored in bunches, and almost at will, in a straight-sets win over the visiting l'Universitè de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Saturday.

UNB won with scores of 25-14, 25-16 and 25-6.

"We knew they were going to come out hard and we just wanted to play our game and show what we've been working on, and I think we did that," said UNB's Victoria Eadle (Gallagher Ridge, NB). She led UNB with 12 kills and 11 digs, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.

The Reds were in control from the early moments.

Les Aigles Bleues scored the first two points of the match, but UNB rebounded quickly, establishing an aggressive attack.

Fifth-year hitter Siobhan Fitzpatrick quarterbacked a 3-0 run midway through the first set, earning three consecutive points on a block, a kill and then a service ace to give UNB a 19-12 lead.

The Reds would ride another 3-0 run to push their lead to 22-13, on route to a 25-14 set victory.

In the second set, Moncton once again took an early lead, building a 3-0 edge.

UNB used a 4-0 run to move ahead 18-12.

Behind the serving of Kelsey Bond (Bridgewater, NS), the Reds closed the set with three straight points for a 25-16 win.

Moncton scored the first point of the third set before the home team rode the serving of Paige Lehto (North Vancouver, BC) on a 12-0 run for a 12-1 lead.

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

The visitors could not recover, falling 25-6.

"I think in the third set we were playing the style of volleyball we've been aspiring to in the gym, Monday to Friday," said Reds head coach Christine Biggs. "In the first and second sets, there were definitely areas we'd like to have done things differently."

Along with Eadle's output, Maggie McLenahan (Oromocto, NB) contributed 13 digs and Lehto distributed a match-high 31 service assists.

Joanie Arsenault (Tracadie-Sheila, NB) led les Aigles Bleues with 13 digs, and Maude Beaudin (Allardville, NB) had 19 serve assists.

"We usually fight a little bit better than that," said Moncton head coach Monette Boudreau-Carroll. "It's not our character. It's not who we are as a team."

With the win, the Reds are now 6-and-6 and in third place in the Atlantic University Sport standings.

"I think we're doing a good job of sticking to the process and continuing to have high demands for ourselves and pushing ourselves to get better," said Biggs. "I'm really happy that that was reflected on the court today."

Moncton's record is now 3-and-11, good for fifth place in the six-team league.

Moncton's next action is Friday, when they visit the Saint Mary's Huskies for a 7:00pm start.

The Reds play host to the Acadia Axewomen on Saturday. Game time is 2:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics