REDS upset #9 ranked Huskies in five set thriller

The University of New Brunswick REDS were able to outlast the Saint Mary's University Huskies in a five set marathon match on Saturday, February 19.

Coming into their first match in 91 days, the Huskies were ranked #9 in the country with an 8-1 record, their lone loss coming at the hands of the REDS on November 21.

The Huskies first match in 91 days got off to a strong start, as they took a commanding 10-3 lead early, highlighted by back-to-back service aces by third year middle Mariama Syll (Charters Settlement, N.B.), and a pair of kills by third year all-star Olivia Bell (Lahave, N.S.).

A kill by Syll gave the Huskies a 16-7 lead heading into the technical timeout. Coming out of the first set timeout, the REDS went on a run, highlighted by four straight points to cut the Huskies lead to one, at 23-22, before the Huskies were able to finish off the first set 25-22.

The REDS momentum continued into the second set, with strong play by Kristen Burns (Mississauga, ON) and Emma Burns (Fredericton, N.B.), giving their team an early 6-2 lead. Saint Mary's was able to come back and the two teams exchanged leads with the Huskies taking a 16-15 advantage into the technical timeout.

With the score tied at 18-18, REDS setter Bailey Lemieux (Fredericton, N.B.) went on an impressive serving run of five straight points, including one service ace, before middle Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB) capped off the set with a big block to give the REDS a 25-19 second set win, to tie the match at one set a piece. 

The REDS continued their strong play to begin the third set, with a Kristen Burns kill giving her team a 16-10 lead at the technical timeout. Saint Mary's was able to cut that lead to 22-19, but back-to-back kills by Burns helped the REDS win the set 25-21 and give them a commanding 2-1 set lead.

In a must win fourth set, the Huskies got off to a strong start, with strong play from first year Nada Hassanin (Cairo, Egypt) helping them take a 16-10 lead into the technical timeout. The REDS battled back to cut the lead to 21-20, but back-to-back kills by Bethany Smith helped the Huskies regain control, before Olivia Bell finished off the set with a kill to give the Huskies a 25-21 win and force a decisive fifth set. 

The fifth set looked to be more of the same, with the teams trading points for an early score of 4-4 before the REDS took over led by Kristen Burns. Burns finished the fifth set with four kills and a service ace, and a kill by Sonya Nielsen (Delia, AB) was the final blow, as the REDS defeated the Huskies 15-11, to take the match 3-2.

REDS setter Catherine Burns (Fredericton, N.B.) was named Subway Player of the Game with a game high 47 assists along with 12 digs. Kristen Burns led all scorers with 19 points, including 17 kills, 9 digs and a service ace, while Nielsen chipped in 14 kills of her own. Libero Katelyn Chapman (Indian Mountain, N.B.) also had a strong game, tying for the game high with 19 digs and adding 4 assists.

The Huskies were led by Olivia Bell with 15 kills and 9 digs, while Bethany Smith posted 10 kills, 3 solo blocks and 2 solo aces, and Megan Bruhm (Hubley, N.S.) contributed 11 kills and 13 digs. Setter Jakobie Friesen (Barrie, ON) led Saint Mary's with 42 assists and 3 service aces, and libero Renee Cleveland (Saint-Martin, N.S.) tied for the game lead with 19 digs.

The REDS win was their third straight and improved their record to 7-5 on the season, heading into their next matchup, Saturday, Feb. 26 at Université de Moncton.

The Huskies loss dropped their record to 8-2. They remain atop the AUS standings heading into Sunday's matchup against the Acadia Axewomen at 2 p.m.