Axewomen hold off UNB comeback attempt

FREDERICTON - The Acadia Axewomen needed five sets to beat the UNB REDS in Atlantic University Sport women's volleyball action Friday night at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center. 

Acadia won 3-2 with scores of 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 26-24 and 15-13. 

"It shows more about us as a team that we were able to forget what had happened early," said first year REDS hitter Talia Nixon (Fredericton, NB). "Being able to get it into the fifth and play hard in the fifth, it wasn't the result we wanted, but I'm not disappointed, per se, I think it builds a fire for tomorrow." 

The visitors scored the first three points of the match on route to an early 8-3 lead, which prompted a REDS timeout. 

The Axewomen kept rolling, extending their lead to 11-5. 

The REDS rallied, closing their deficit to just two points at 19-17, but once again Acadia pushed forward. They went up 22-18 on route to a 25-20 opening set victory. 

In the second, the teams traded points early before the Axewomen fashioned a 3-0 run to go up 7-4. 

Meghan Vaags (Abbotsford, BC) and Nixon set a big block on an Acadia attack to tie the set 7-7 

A Nixon put-back gave UNB their first lead of the second set at 9-8. 

Tied 14-14, Acadia built an 18-14 lead and then held off the REDS, winning 25-22 for a two-sets-to-none lead. 

In the third, back-and-forth play saw the REDS and Axewomen tied at 15, 19, 20 and 22 before UNB got a Nixon kill and an Isla Olesen (Calagary, AB) block on back-to-back plays to take a 24-23 lead. 

UNB won the third set 25-23. 

The fourth set saw the teams trade runs. 

UNB broke out to a 3-0 lead, then pushed that to 5-1. 

Acadia rallied, tying the score 5-5. 

Tied 7-7, the Axewomen went on a 4-1 run to lead 11-8. 

Tied 18-18, Acadia went up 20-18 then 23-20. 

But the REDS rallied, pulling even 24-24 and scoring the final two points of the set for a 26-24 victory. 

In the deciding set, the teams traded points, neither side able to establish a significant lead. 

After Acadia went ahead 11-10, the REDS called timeout. 

The set was tied at 12 and 13 before Acadia closed it out, 15-13 for the three sets to two victory. 

"We've been working on when we get leads, finishing off. So, I'm really proud that we were able to get that one," said Acadia's Wesley-Ann Bailey (Ottawa, ON), named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. She had 13 kills for the Axewomen. 

Jenna Lake (Conception Bay South, NL) led Acadia with 15 kills and 17 digs. Jenna Guy (Port Williams, NS) also had 17 digs for Acadia. 

Jenna Adams (Truro, NS) led the REDS with a game-high 35 digs. 

Nixon finished with 18 kills and 10 digs while Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) had 17 kills and 13 digs and Lydia Green (Bedford, NS) added nine kills and 14 digs. 

Both teams are now 4-and-2. 

The REDS and Axewomen will wrap up their two-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon. 

First serve is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.