Huskies defeat UNB REDS for fifth straight win

The Saint Mary's Huskies won their fifth straight match in a tough battle, defeating the UNB REDS in four sets (26-24, 25-16, 20-25, 25-19).

The first set was a tight battle, with both teams showing strong offensive play. The UNB REDS pulled out to a 10-5 lead. After a service ace from Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC), the Huskies called a timeout. When the set resumed, the Huskies came out strong with kills from Megan Bruhm (Hubley, NS) and Olivia Bell (Lahave, NS) to close in on the lead.

With the Huskies closing in, the UNB REDS took a time out. When play resumed, the Huskies kept their strong offense tying the set at 18-18. With a beautiful block from Huskies Taylor Lougheed (Calgary, AB) and a great attack from Emilia Mikanovich (Minsk, Belarus), the Huskies won the set 26-24.

The second set saw a back-and-forth battle as both teams' defense was there to answer. With the Huskies pulling away from a kill by Mikanovich and a block by Bell, the UNB REDS called a timeout. 

On the restart, the UNB REDS offense started to close the gap with a block from Bailey Lemieux (Fredericton, NB) and a kill from Jenna Adams (Truro, NS). However, with statement kills from Mikanovich and Bell gave the Huskies an 18-14 lead, seeing the Huskies close in on winning the set. The Huskies didn't waiver, and with kills from Madison Hann (Conquerall Mills, NS) and Mikanovich, they took the set 25-16.

The third set started with each team trading points as they both looked to take the lead. Blocks from Hann and Lougheed, along with Kills from Bruhm and Mikanovich, saw the Huskies pull away to a 10-6 lead before the UNB REDS called a timeout.

Back in action, the set saw both teams continue to battle it out; with kills from Benko, Adams, and Lemieux the UNB REDS were closing the gap. The Huskies were keeping the pressure mounted with a well-placed floater from Bell and a kill from Alena Piatukhova (Minsk, Belarus) to keep the Huskies in the lead at 18-15.

The UNB REDS tied the set at 19-19 with kills from Benko and a block from Lehto, forcing the Huskies to take a timeout. The timeout didn't stop the UNB REDS momentum as they broke away to take the lead 23-19 with blocks from Lemieux, Lehto, and a service ace from Adams. The UNB REDS sealed the win on bad sets from the Huskies, winning the third set 25-20.

The fourth set saw the Huskies pull out to an early lead, with a few attack errors from the Huskies, the UNB REDS were able to hold it close. After a very long rally, a kill from Bruhm had the Huskies leading 14-7 in the fourth set. As the set progressed, the back-and-forth battle continued, but big kills from Bruhm saw the Huskies win the set 25-19, giving them a 3-1 win.

Huskies right side Megan Bruhm was named Subway Player of the game with 11 kills and 21 digs. Mikanovich had a team-high 18 kills and added 16 digs.

The Huskies win improved their record to 11-4 on the season. They'll be back in action Friday, February 10, at 7 pm hosting Memorial Sea-Hawks at the Homburg Centre. 

The UNB REDS loss dropped their record to 8-9 on the season. UNB will be back in action on home court Friday, February 10, at 6 pm as they host the Acadia Axewomen.

Recap by Alyson Duffy / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics