REDS Fall to Aigles Bleues

(MONCTON, NB) The UNB REDS fell to the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Friday night, 3-1.

The Aigles Bleues won with scores of 23-25, 25-14, 26-24, and 25-16. 

Libero Jenna Adams (Truro, NS) earned Player of the Game honors for UNB in the loss with 33 digs.

Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB) led the REDS in kills with 11 and also had 4 blocks, while Lydia Green (Bedford, NS) added nine kills.

Kyana Sivret led the way for Moncton, finishing with 16 kills to be named Player of the Game for the Aigles Bleues, while Anne Paquette added 13 kills and 24 digs.

The Aigles Bleues got off to a great start in the opening set, taking four of the first five points of the match.

However, kills from Oleson and Talia Nixon (Fredericton, NB) allowed the REDS to tie the game at 5-5.

UNB established a 12-9 lead with back-to-back kills from Meghan Vaags (Abbotsford, BC).

But errors from UNB allowed Moncton to even the match 20-20.

The teams continued to trade points before an attacking error from Sivret helped give the REDS a 25-23 first-set victory.

Moncton dominated the second set early with a 10-2 run, led by Sivret who added two kills. Although the REDS mounted a 6-1 comeback, closing the gap to 11-8, the Aigles Bleues maintained control, ultimately claiming the set 25-14.

Moncton took an early 6-2 lead in the third set, but UNB responded emphatically with a 7-0 run, taking a 9-6 lead, with Olesen contributing two kills.

A closely contested set ensued, with Moncton edging ahead 23-21.

Despite a valiant effort from the REDS to level the score at 23-23, kills from Anne Paquette and Sivret secured a 26-24 win for the Aigles Bleues.

In the fourth set, the REDS fell behind early, but back-to-back kills from Vaags helped UNB take a 4-3 lead.

A kill from Sivret kicked off a 6-1 Moncton run, but the REDS responded with back-to-back kills from Olesen to bring the score to a one-point Moncton lead.

But Moncton took over from there led by Sivret, and the Aigles Bleues took a commanding 21-14 lead.

Moncton closed out the set with a 4-0 run with Sophie Hedou delivering the final blow as the Aigles Bleues took the fourth set, 25-26, and closed out the match 3-1.

UNB (10-9) and Moncton (8-11) conclude their home-and-home series on Saturday at UNB’s CURRIE CENTER. First serve is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/ UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Evan Richtsfeld/ UNB Athletics