VANCOUVER - The top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds completed the weekend sweep over second-ranked Manitoba with another 3-0 victory (25-23, 25-20, 27-25) on Saturday night at War Memorial Gym, clinching top spot in Canada West in the process.
Although the 'Birds swept the Bisons in three sets again, Saturday's match was no cake walk. The Bisons were a much tougher squad than they were on Friday, leading for most of the first and third sets before the T-Birds were able to mount late comebacks to retake the lead.
"I asked the players to have a little selective amnesia and focus not on how Manitoba played yesterday, but how we prepared for them yesterday," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "There were a few rough spots but there was a lot of high-quality play going on there on both sides of the net."
The Bisons were in front until late in the first set, when a
Jessica von Schilling kill put UBC on top 18-17. The T-Birds slowly pulled away after that, thanks to a strong defensive effort which saw UBC hold Manitoba to .077 hitting in the frame.
Shanice Marcelle's second of 11 kills on the night capped off the first set.
The second set was smoother sailing for the T-Birds, as they led most of the way. vonSchilling had three block-assists and three kills in the set to put the home side on top 2-0.
The third set was similar to the first, with Manitoba leading all the way up to their first game-point opportunity, but two straight aces by
Liz Cordonier tied the score at 24. After the sides traded points, vonSchilling had a kill to put the T-Birds up 26-25, and then an ace to seal the 3-0 win.
Cordonier had a game-high 14 kills and three aces on the night. Marcelle had a game-high 12 digs to go along with her 11 kills. vonSchilling finished with seven kills on just 10 attacks.
Kate Wasyliw led Manitoba with 13 kills.
Still perfect at 17-0, the T-Birds have the top seed already locked up with three games remaining. With an undefeated regular season well within sight, Reimer insists that the team will be focused on quality performances every night, rather than looking too far ahead.
"I think we are better off to just go after it match-by-match," said Reimer. "Something we have focused on for the past couple of years is to keep improving throughout the season. Thats really important."
Manitoba falls to 12-5, just a half-game back of Brandon for second place.
Next up for UBC is a pair of games in Alberta against the fourth-ranked Pandas. The Bisons will return home for a single match against Winnipeg.
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