UNB tops SMU 3-0 in women's volleyball

UNB tops SMU 3-0 in women's volleyball

(HALIFAX, N.S.)—The visiting UNB Reds swept the Saint Mary's Huskies 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-23) on Sunday afternoon in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action from the Homburg Centre.

UNB's Victoria Eadle (Gallagher Ridge, NB) led all hitters with 12 kills and 14.0 points.

The Reds jumped out to early leads of 10-5 and 16-9 before closing out the set on a 9-4 run.

The second set started out tied 4-4 before UNB pushed the paced with leads of 9-6, 14-9 and 20-13. SMU rallied back with a four-point run to cut into UNB's lead at 20-17. A 5-4 run down the stretch closed out the set for UNB.

Both teams battled in the third set with SMU taking an early 5-3 lead. UNB would tie up the set 5-5 and 8-8 before taking a 12-9 lead. SMU used a five-point run to re-take the lead 14-12. A 5-0 run by UNB saw the Reds lead 17-14. Both teams traded points and the set was tied 21-21. 

A questionable call on a point given to UNB, gave the Reds a 22-21 lead and they held off the Huskies 25-23 in the final set.

Lindsay Donovan (London, ON) paced SMU with 7.0 points and along with Bethany Smith (Moncton, NB) each had six kills.

Teammates Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) had 12.5 points and nine kills while Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Kelowna, BC) added 10 kills for the Reds.

Both teams are 5-6 in AUS play and return to action next weekend as UNB hosts Moncton January 19 at 7 p.m. and SMU travels to Acadia January 20 at 2 p.m.

Dominic Nolasco, SMU Communications

Photo Nick Pearce