Hi everyone,I hope everyones doing well. This past weekend we finished up our regular season matches by travelling to Halifax to face Dal. Going into the weekend, we needed atleast one win between the 2 matches to hold first place and 'host' the best 2/3 play off series. The two matches turned out to be dog fight barn burners.
In the first match, we lost in four sets, with scores of (26-24, 25-19, 18-25, 25-15). It was a battle from the first point to the last, with nerves and tentative play, playing a contributing role to the match, on both sides of the net. Looking back on the match now, you realize how simple mistakes can cost you long term and more importantly, sometimes you just gotta man up and play the game you're capable of playing. Walking away with the player of the match, was 5th year middle John Sheehan, who tallied up 5 kills, 1 dig and 7 blocks throughout the 4 set match.
Day 2 brought the crowds to the edge of their seats once again, as both teams slugged it out back and fourth until a 5th and final set was to decide who would finish top in the AUS for regular season. Having a slow start in the 5th set is not something any team wants to happen, but it can happen...and life goes on. We were unable to find points early on in the 5th set, giving dal a 8-3 lead at the switch. Dal went on to win the match 15-8. The set scores were (25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-8). Player of the match was 2nd year middle, B la D (Brett LaDrew) rocking out with 5 kills, 1 dig, and 5 blocks.
Obviously finishing the weekend off with 2 loses is not what our team wanted leading into playoffs. But as I mentioned above, life goes on. On day 2, 2 teams grinded it out, and in a 5th set match, someone wins, someone loses. It's in the past, and our team now has this week to watch gametape, study our opponents, practice hard and prepare to battle to re-claim our AUS title! Last year, our UNB team was able to do something our program hadn't done in decades, and that was capture an AUS championship, and our team did it in 2 matches, defeating dal at home in the 2nd match. This year, our UNB team has the opportunity to do something that has never happened before. Go down to dal, grind out a win on their turf, then come back to UNB and win the AUS on home court! The title is up for grabs and myself, my 16 teammates, our trainer, and our 3 coaches all want! It's time to man up! Our first best of 3 series match is on Friday night at 7pm. If you can fill up a carload of people (or 2 or 3 cars haha), do it up! The more UNB fans in the dalplex, the better! The 2nd match of the AUS playoffs will be on Sunday at UNB at 3pm! The winner of this series will represent the AUS at the CIS championships March 4-6th at Queen's University in Kingston, ON.
This week I'm going to introduce you to our captain, Matt Sweet (#4). I've known Sweet since grade 7. We played against each other in Junior High and High School. We were teammates on provincial from 16U all the way up to Canada Games in 2009! I'll be the first to say that if it wasn't for Matt, I wouldn't be the player I am today. He always was the top players growing up, and I constantly wanted to be as good as him, and it always challenged me to become better at different aspects of the game. Matt's a 6'2 leftside hitter, who jumps through the gym! He was named an AUS all-star last season and is in the running once again this year. Here are some facts him:Q) Why did you choose UNB?
A) I choose to come to UNB because I wanted to play volleyball after high school and UNB's team was becoming more well known as a top calibur program in the CIS.
Q) Who is your favorite pro athlete?
A) My favorite pro athlete is Joe Sakic because he's clutch and gets the job done when it has to be.
Q) What is your best volleyball memory at UNB?
A) Winning the AUS championship last season.
Thats all for this week! Thanks for checking out the blog, and do your best to make it out to our home match this Sunday at 3pm at the Currie Center, you fans are our 7th man without a doubt!Cheers,
Costa
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