Tigers Hand UNB First Loss of Season, Take 1–0 Series Lead in AUS Semifinal

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Dalhousie Tigers did something no other Atlantic University Sport team was able to do during the regular season. Beat the UNB REDS. 

The Tigers opened the best of three AUS semi-final series against the REDS with a dramatic 3-2 win over the REDS, handing UNB their first loss after a 20-and-0 regular season. 

The Tigers came out aggressively, trying to silence the more than 12-hundred spectators on hand at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center. 

Mid-way through, a 4-0 run by the REDS created an 18-14 cushion, but the Tigers fought back to tie the score 20-20. 

A 3-0 run by Dal put them ahead 23-21 and they hung on to win the opening set 25-22. 

In the second, UNB took an early 6-4 lead and continued to hold a slim advantage through the middle of the set before extending that lead to 19-13. 

Another Tigers 3-0 run closed the gap to 24-18, but UNB scored the final point to win the second set 25-18. 

In the third, the Tigers fought from behind to take a tightly contested set 27-25. 

The fourth set was another close one but an Isla Olesen put-back gave UNB a 20-15 lead and the REDS won 25-18 to force a deciding set. 

In the fifth, the Tigers took over after tying the score 5-5, going on a 4-0 run to move ahead 9-5 on route to a 15-9 set win and the 3-2 victory. 

Annik Boldon led the Tigers with 16 kills and 15 digs. She was named the Boston Pizza Player of the Game. 

Kasandra Trenke contributed nine kills and three blocks, Ella Hornby had eight kills, and Madelyn MacLaughlin put up 32 assists. 

For the REDS, Lydia Green struck 16 kills and had a dozen digs while Talia Nixon had 12 digs and 45 assists. 

Jenna Adams recorded a match-high 31 digs and Sonya Nielsen struck 13 kills and served four aces. 

Olesen and Danielle Krzywonos each had four blocks for UNB. 

Prior to Thursday's match, Boldon and Tigers' teammate Dominka Aniolowska, along with UNB's  Green, Adams, Benko and Nixon were recognized as AUS all-stars, and REDS' head coach Lauren Hale-Miller was honoured as AUS Coach of the Year. 

The fourth-seeded Tigers now lead the best of three series one game to none. 

Game two goes Friday night, at 7:00pm, once again at the Currie Center. 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB REDS