V-Reds sweep pre-season series with York Lions

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) - The UNB Varsity Reds, defending AUS champions, hosted the York Lions in a pair of matches this weekend winning on both days by match scores of 3-0 and 3-1.

On Friday night the set scores were 26-24, 25-16, 25-16.

Outside hitter Marc White was the leader in Kills with 11 he also posted 5 digs and 13 pts. Second year setter Mathieu Losier posted 20 serve assists and five digs.

Sunday's set scores were 25-19, 30-32, 25-11, 25-17.

Sunday's game got off to a slow start for UNB with York jumping ahead 4-1. Once the Varsity Reds settled down they were quick to turn the score around with some big plays from Eivind Anderson, Craig Toonders and good setting by Jordan Brooks. It was a long battle at the net for set point with UNB with a big kill and the point on the play - 25-19.

In the second set the Varsity Reds did a great job covering blocks and the game was more evenly matched as the teams traded point for point with UNB just ahead for most of the match. UNB jumped out to a 21-16 lead after the technical time out but York capitalized on UNB's errors and brought the match to 24-24. Over the next 14 points both teams battled trying to close out the set. York took the set 32-30 on a huge block as CIS All-Canadian Ray Szeto and UNB's Eivind Anderson battled at the net.

In the third set with Losier back on the court UNB moved ahead to a 14-6 lead. The threesome of Losier, Tristen Burridge and Elvind Anderson came up with some big plays putting points on the board. UNB's momentum increased as CIS All-Canadian Julio Fernandez also began to find his form while Logan Keoghan had some huge swings. UNB took the third set 25-11.

Set number four saw the teams all tied up as Losier had back to back service aces to bring UNB to 10-8 lead. UNB's six foot seven Keoghan continued to knock the balls down for points from the middle giving UNB a 16-13 lead. The Varsity Reds controlled the final set with service aces and from Fernandez and Losier and a final big block from first year Fredericton native Ryan Colpitts; taking the set 25-17.

Overall head coach Dan McMorran was pleased with his team's play this weekend and commented, "For playing a month earlier than both teams usual do I thought our defensive play was far superior to our start last season. Offensively we still need some work to coordinate tempo with our outsides and our middles, but I thought defensively we were sharp in both matches and brought some balls back that were great individual efforts as well our blocks was strong behind that."

When asked about second year Tristan's Burridge's outstanding play coach McMorran continued, "Kudos to Burridge! He had to assume an entirely new role, the libero that we recruited in just underwent surgery and is not ready for 4-6 weeks. Tristen is a Left side and he assumed this new role and was brilliant; he may have been most consistent ball player this weekend."

Next games for the Varsity Reds are on October 11 and 12 with game times at 8:00pm and 2:00 pm as UNB takes on the Winnipeg Wesmen.

"Winnipeg is a top four Canada West team and a perennial powerhouse in the west and I'm glad we have a couple of weeks to prepare," said McMorran.

Source: UNB Sports Information