Sea-Hawks Fall to UNB

The UNB REDS completed a three-game weekend sweep of the Memorial Sea-Hawks with a 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.

The REDS won with scores of 25-14, 25-16 and 30-28.

“It’s awesome. It makes it all worth it,” said REDS libero Katelyn Chapman (Indian Mountain, NB). “All the hours, everything we put in. It makes it all worth it.”

Chapman recorded a game-high 15 digs, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.

The first set began evenly, with the two teams trading the first eight points.

The REDS then scored four straight points, taking an 8-4 lead and prompting a Sea-Hawks timeout.

UNB led 16-11 at the technical timeout and rode a number of strong kills by team captain Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) to a 25-14 first set win.

The REDS began the second by pushing out to a 10-6 lead before the Sea-Hawks rallied to within one, at 11-10.

But UNB would score the next five points, taking a 16-10 lead into the technical timeout of the second set.

The REDS would extend their lead to seven points at 23-16 before Alia Nielsen (Delia, AB) served out the set 25-16.

It looked like the home team might run away with the third set, as the REDS raced out to a 6-0 lead.

After a couple of Memorial timeouts, the Sea-Hawks took flight.

They tied the set 10-10, then reeled off another three points to go up 13-10. That prompted REDS head coach Richard Schick to call a timeout of his own.

Memorial led 16-14 at the technical timeout.

The teams then engaged in a spirited back-and-forth marathon.

Memorial went up 22-19, before UNB rallied to tie it 23-23.

The sides were tied at 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 before first-year RED Kindigo Watson (Calgary, AB) served the final two points of the set to give UNB the 30-28 win and the straight sets victory.

“We know how to fight,” said Chapman. “In practice, every day, we’re fighting constantly so we’re constantly preparing for these situations and that’s why we pulled through there.”

“UNB had a couple of excellent plays at the end and they pulled through with those,” said Sea-Hawks captain Jenna Poole (Winnipeg, MB). “We fought hard, but the timing, UNB had two great kills and that’s the way it went.”

Sarah Trowbridge (Sunnyside, NL) led the Memorial effort with 11 kills and 12 digs, while Erin Grabka (Corner Brook, NL) added 13 digs.

Burns had 15 kills and 11 digs for the REDS, including the 500^th regular season dig of her Atlantic University Sport career.

“It’s pretty special,” she said. “I didn’t really know I was that close, but I’ve played so many positions that I’ve been in the back row a lot, helping everyone out. It was very exciting.”

With the win, UNB improves to 3-and-2, while the Sea-Hawks remain winless.

The REDS next action will be Friday, at Acadia. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.

Memorial won’t play again until Friday, November 19^th, when they’ll face the REDS once again, at the AUS league tournament, at Dalhousie.

That game is scheduled to start at 5:00pm Atlantic time.