Axewomen open semifinal series with victory over UNB

WOLFVILLE – Opening the semifinal round of the AUS volleyball championship, the Acadia Axewomen used home court advantage to pick up a 3-1 victory over the UNB REDS.

Acadia opened the match with a narrow 26-24 first set win before UNB took a decisive 25-14 second set.

The Axewomen rebounded with 25-21 and 25-19 third and fourth sets to take the match 3-1.

First team all-star Alexia Lemay-Evans (Azilda, ON) and Jenna Lake (Conception Bay South, NL) led Acadia's offence with 16 points apiece. Lake had a match-high 16 kills.

Acadia's second team all-star Erica Fisher (Middle Stewiacke, NS) finished the match with a team-high three blocks and two block assists. Adding in 10 kills she finished with 14 points. The offence ran through Charlotte Dean (Mississauga, ON) who finished with 38 assists and was named Acadia's player of the game.

For the UNB REDS it was second team all-star Heather Benko (Sechelt, BC) leading the way with 15 kills and 18 points. She had match-high two aces, while also picking up a block.

AUS rookie of the year Talia Dixon (Fredericton, NB) also stood out for the REDS, finishing the night with 10 kills and two block assists. At the net, Meghan Vaags (Abbotsford, BC) made it tough for the Axewomen as she finished with six blocks and two block assists. Combined with two kills she was the third UNB player in double-digit points – finishing the match with 10.  

The two top liberos in the AUS were neck-and-neck all night, with Jenna Adams (Truro, NS) edging out Rebecca Dorsey (Toronto, ON) by one dig, finishing with 23. For her performance, Adams was named UNB's player of the game.

Game 2 is Saturday night in Fredericton. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Richard J. Currie Center.