REDS force game three against Axewomen in AUS semifinal

FREDERICTON - The UNB REDS forced game three of their Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball semifinal with a straight sets win over the Acadia Axewomen, Saturday at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center. 

Talia Nixon (Fredericton, NB) led the offence for the REDS, notching a game-high 13 kills and nine digs. Lydia Green (Bedford, NS) followed closely with 12 kills, and Jenna Adams (Truro, NS) had 18 digs.  

"Everyone's feeling really energetic," said Nixon, named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "We went in as the fourth seed and there's nothing to lose. We just kept playing, and our coach has been using this 'fight for one more day' mentality. Going in and getting the win, we did just that. We get to go for another day." 

Alexia Lemay-Evans (Azilda, ON) led the Axewomen with 11 kills.  

Acadia won the first game of the AUS semifinal series 3-1 on Thursday. 

"In game one, our offence all aspects, our outside hitters, middles, our back row offence, everything was firing," Acadia's head coach Michelle Wood reflected. "Today, we didn't necessarily have that offensive threat that we normally bring." 

The REDS opened the first set, showing they weren't going away quietly. 

Isla Olesen (Calgary, AB) landed a kill, giving the home team an early 11-6 lead. 

The Axewomen couldn't catch up to the REDS dominant start and UNB took the first set 25-21. 

UNB continued their fury into the second set, opening with a five-point run to take a 6-1 lead. Holding the lead throughout the set, the REDS won it 25-19. 

"We were controlling the controllables," noted Nixon. "That was our biggest thing coming in. We practiced this morning, and that's what we decided we were going to do. Talk, put our serves in and remember what we can do. They're a great team, and they're going to do what they do well. We just have to do what we can control." 

The REDS, leading two sets to none, drove to close out the game. 

The third set showed a much stronger effort from the Axewomen. 

UNB held the lead for the majority of the set, but Acadia kept the REDS within arm's reach throughout.  

Finishing with a kill from Olesen, the REDS took the third set 25-14 to force a deciding game.  

"UNB's left sides were very strong," added Coach Wood. "Our block had a hard time adjusting to any inside ball, and number nine (Green) did a good job placing balls deep to that perimeter that we struggled with." 

The REDS and the Axewomen play game three of their series Monday, in Wolfville. The winner moves on to the final. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.  

"We're going to continue with our high energy in game three," said Nixon. "Going back into their barn is hard, it's going to be a packed gym on Monday. I think going in and understanding that we still have people cheering for us and we can be our own energy is important. It doesn't matter what's happening around us, all we need is the support of our teammates." 

RECAP BY: Madison Tucker/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: Fran Harris/UNB Athletics