REDS Bow Out In Loss At Dal

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS season came to an end Friday in a straight sets loss to the Dalhousie Tigers in game two of their Atlantic University Sports semi-final.

The Tigers won 27-25, 25-20 and 25-23.

“I think it was a night and day difference between last night and tonight,” said UNB head coach Richard Schick. “We came and we battled tonight which we can live with. It wasn’t the result that we wanted, but I was very proud of the way we played today.”

Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) recorded 16 kills to lead the way for UNB and was named the REDS Subway Player of the Game.

“Going into this knowing it could potentially be our last game, we all wanted to play for each other especially our seniors who are leaving us this year, and we really just wanted to give it our all after yesterday’s sweep,” said Benko. “We came back with good energy and good fight. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t pull it through in the end even though we gave it our all.”

In the first set, the teams traded points before the REDS would go on a 4-0 run to take an early 8-4 lead. The Tigers responded with a four-point run of their own to tie the game at 8-8. The teams would exchange points before the Tigers exploded for a 10-2 run to take a commanding lead.

UNB wouldn’t quit, scoring eight of the next 12 points to tie the game 23-23.

The Tigers would close out the opening set after Grace Calnan (Dartmouth, NS) and Paris Stewart (Halifax, NS) would block a Sonya Neilson (Delia, AB) attack to give Dalhousie the 27-25 victory.

UNB would jump out to an early 3-0 lead in the second set before the Tigers responded with a six-point run to take a 6-3 lead. The teams continued to trade runs before a kill from AUS MVP Lucy Glenn-Carter (Toronto, ON) gave the Tigers the second set, 25-20.

The third set opened with a 9-2 run for the Tigers. But like they did all night, the REDS wouldn’t give up, battling back to tie the game after a kill from Benko would make it 18-18.

The teams fought back and forth before Glen-Carter put the game away with a kill to give the Tigers the third set victory, 25-23, and the win.   

Along with her 16 kills, Benko added ten digs, two blocks and an assist.

Senior Paige Lehto (North Vancouver, BC) led UNB in assists with 30, while another senior, Katelyn Chapman (Indian Mountain, NB), contributed defensively with 15 digs.

“I think we have a lot of great young talent, but at the same time it’s tough because you’re seeing some other people move on which is obviously tough,” said Schick. “It would’ve been nice for them to go out in a bit of a better way, but I think this team can leave the gym with their heads held high in regard to how hard they battled against a pretty good team.”

RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Terrel Beals/for Dal Athletics