The top seed Dalhousie Tigers topped the fourth seed UNB Reds 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-23) in the first game of the AUS championship semifinals, best-of-three series Dalplex on a Thursday night.
The first set was clos early, with the all-stars of both teams going to work early. Paris Stewart (Halifax, NS) had several powerful swings. Despite several well-placed passes from RED Katelyn Chapman (Indian Mountain, NB), the Tigers’ started to roll. Led by star player Grace Calnan (Dartmouth, NS), Dalhousie was out to a seven-point lead halfway through the set and never looked by. Their impressive defence stifled the REDS attack and limited their scoring opportunities as the Tigers closed the first set by a score of 25-14.
The REDS struggled early in the second set, with AUS MVP Lucy Glen-Carter (Toronto, ON) continuing where she left off in the regular season. Some missed placed passes by UNB set up several opportunities for the Tigers to convert points. The Tigers got out to a 13-0 lead before Meghan Vaags (Abbotsford, BC) stepped up, earning the first points for the REDS, then going to the service line for some consistent serves to get the REDS back in the action. Calnan continued her impressive play in the second set, becoming a wall at the net on a long rally, that the REDS could not find a way around. The Tigers led 17-10 when Rebecca MacDonnell (Mount Uniacke, NS) went to the service line, and started a solid run of service. UNB were not able to get the score close in the second set with the final blow sent by Tiger Kyla Clubb (Springdale, ARK) who’s kill end the second set 25-13.
A much closer third set saw back-and-forth play through most of the set. Glen-Carter, who finished the game with 19 kills, had several strong swings in the third to keep the score close. Chapman was solid in the back for the REDS keeping several balls up, and the REDS in the game. The Tigers were able to use their experience and remain calm late in the game to seal the 25-23 third set win, and win the game 3-0.
Lucy Glen-Carter was named the Subway player of the game for the Tigers. Lydia Green was named the Subway player of the game for the UNB REDS.
The teams return to the court on Friday, February 24 at 7pm for game two of the semifinals, best-of-three series.
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