(FREDERICTON, NB) The U SPORTS No. 5 Montreal Carabins beat the UNB Reds in straight sets on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the two-game weekend series between the teams.
Olivier Riopel (Gatineau, QC) had nine kills and six digs to earn player of the game honours, as the Carabins won with scores of 25-21, 27-25 and 25-22.
"The boys fought hard, we are playing the best defence we have played as a team," said Reds middle Brad Stewart (Wolfville, NS). "The outcome kind of sucks, but this is what we learn from."
UNB falls to 2-and-4 while Montreal improves to 7-and-1.
Like Friday, the Reds played the Carabins close right out of the gate, finding themselves tied 9-9 early.
Montreal would get the first significant advantage, jumping out 14-10 and kept that spread to a 25-21 first set win.
The two teams would trade points for the duration of the second set, with the Carabins scoring the edge 27-25 to go ahead two-sets-to-none.
The Reds would keep the same pace in the third set, and stood deadlocked 21-21 before the Carabins scored consecutive points to make it 23-21, allowing them to keep the set out of UNB's reach once again to win 25-22 and take the match 3-0.
"We were right with them the whole game," said Stewart.
Connor McConnell (Hanwell, NB) led the Reds with 18 kills and six digs while Eduardo Luchese (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) added 15 kills and five digs.
Alexis Tournier (Gatineau, QC) led Montreal with 15 kills and five digs, and Youssef Baati (Sfax, Tunisia) had 12 kills and four digs.
The Reds will on the road to take on the Laval Rouge et Or, next Friday.
The Carabins have concluded the first half of their season and won't play again until a home match, against Sherbrooke, on Friday, January 17th.
RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics