SMU tops UNB 3-1 in volleyball - Smith led all hitters with 19 kills

(Halifax, N.S.)—The Saint Mary's Huskies rode the hot hand of Erin Smith (Moncton, N.B.) in a 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23) win over the UNB Varsity Reds Saturday night from the Homburg Centre.

Smith, the Huskies' fourth-year middle position player added 32 total attacks as SMU improves to 6-6 (12 points) in AUS play.

Megan Kuciak (Ottawa, Ont.) paced the Varsity Reds with 11 kills and 35 total attacks in the loss while Julia Diemert (Egbert, Ont.) had 10.

Robyn Anderson (Fernie, B.C.) added 17 digs as UNB drops to 0-10 in conference play.

Saint Mary's took the opening set 25-19 despite UNB having more kills (10-8) than the Huskies, who only gave up a third of the errors (3-9) compared to the V-Reds in the first set.

The Varsity Reds took the second set 25-20 despite the Huskies holding a slim 13-12 kill advantage.

A 25-21 Saint Mary's third set saw the Huskies post a 14-8 kill advantage.

The final set saw SMU hold off UNB 25-23 and the Huskies doubled up the Varsity Reds (16-8) in kills.

Kristina Alder (Brampton, Ont.) finished with 12 kills and 18 digs in SMU's win.

The Huskies held advantages in kills (51-38), digs (68-64), and total attacks (144-134) for the match.

The Varsity Reds next hosts Memorial (7-3, 14 points) January 20^th and 21^st.

Saint Mary's visits Acadia (3-9, 6 points) January 20^th and hosts Moncton (6-4, 12 points) Sunday January 22^nd at 2 p.m.

Source Dominic Nolasco

Photo Nick Pearce