VANCOUVER – After stealing the momentum with a big comeback win in the first set, the ninth-ranked Winnipeg Wesmen held on for the upset against No. 6 UBC, beating the T-Birds 3-1 (27-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19) on Friday night at War Memorial Gym.

UBC led 24-18 in the first set before the Wesmen rallied to tie it at 24. A big kill by Joe Cordonier put the 'Birds up one, but the Wesmen were able to survive a long rally on the next point, evening the score after a UBC error. Andrew Town put the Wesmen up 26-25 with a kill on the next point, and then won the set for his side with an emphatic kill after another long rally.

"Up by that much, you think you would get a side-out at some point and put them away but we let them back into it," said UBC head coach Richard Schick. "If you let Winnipeg play Winnipeg volleyball they are going to beat you."

The second set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither side leading by more than two points at any time. UBC tied the score at 23 and seemed to be building momentum, but Justin Duff came up with a monster kill to take the air out of the crowd and put the Wesmen up 24-23. Matt Schreimer went right through the UBC block on the next point to put Winnipeg up 2-0.

The 'Birds looked impressive in the third set, holding Winnipeg to a .111 team hitting percentage on their way to a 25-21 win, but seemed to run out of gas in the final frame. Winnipeg led from start to finish in the fourth set, jumping out in front 11-3 and holding on for the win.

"I was happy with how we stayed composed in the second and third sets, playing well and getting back into it after we dropped behind, but we cant make a habit of playing from behind with this team," said Schick.

UBC edged Winnipeg in the blocking battle 10-9. The 'Birds hit just .199 as a team however, while the Wesmen hit .272.

Town finished with a game-high 22 kills to go along with 14 digs for the Wesmen. Schreimer had 15 kills and Duff had an impressive outing with 14 kills on .591 hitting.

Demijan Savija led the T-Birds with 18 kills. Libero Blair Bann came up with a game-high 23 digs.

The T-Birds and Wesmen will be back at it on Saturday night at War Memorial Gym to wrap up their weekend series. Game time is 8 p.m.