WINNIPEG, MB - The No.1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds took the first step towards defending their national title as they qualified for the CIS national championships by defeating the No.5-ranked Regina Cougars 3-1 by set scores of 25-16, 15-25, 25-19 and 25-13 Friday night at the IGAC in Winnipeg.
The top-seeded T-Birds were forced to play "host" in Winnipeg as scheduling considerations due to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games made hosting in Vancouver impossible.
The T-Birds finished strong in the third set and carried their momentum through the fourth set to dispatch the Cougars after splitting the first two frames. UBC built an early 8-3 lead in what would be the final set thanks to a pair of kills from
Kyla Richey, who led the T-Birds with 16 kills and an impressive .394 hitting percentage. Two kills and an ace from Canada West MVP
Liz Cordonier helped widen the lead to 16-7 before the T-Birds' balanced attack would close out the match with a 25-13 set win.
Cordonier added 15 kills and 14 digs in a strong overall effort and
Katie Tyzuk was impressive running the potent T-Bird offence as she dished out 55 set assists to equal her career and season high.
"We were able to wear them down a bit and once we got all of our wing players going that was they key over the final two sets," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "Liz started a bit slow but once she got rolling, and Kyla was great all night, we took control. Katie did a great job running the offence and I also thought Claire [Hanna] was very solid all night anchoring our passing game."
The first set began with teams trading points but the T-Birds led 8-6 at the first technical timeout thanks to three kills from Canada West first teamer Richey. The Cougars tied the set at 11 on the strength of two Meagan Onstad kills before some sloppy Regina attacking led to three errors and fueled a 5-0 run that had the top seeds ahead 16-12 at the second break. The T-Birds widened their lead as the sent went putting together an 8-2 run punctuated by back-to-back
Jen Hinze kills before
Rayel Quiring ended the set with a kill of her own.
The second set began similar to the first with UBC taking three of the last four points before the break to lead 8-6 with Cordonier and
Shanice Marcelle each recording a pair of kills. The Cougars however caught fire out of the break and with UBC ahead 11-8 went on a 8-1 run thanks to two Onstad kills and a pair from Solveig Nilson and pulled in front 16-12 at the second timeout. The T-Birds were unable to recover and allowed Regina to close the set on a 9-3 run, spurred by three UBC errors, eventually winning 25-15.
"We had a very strong serve and pass game in the first set but that changed in the second," noted Reimer. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy against a very good Regina team but getting a win in the semi-final is a really big weight off our shoulders."
The third set contrasted to the first two as neither side was able to piece together an extended run. After each side began the set with 3-0 runs the teams traded point with Regina eventually leading 8-7 at the first timeout. The T-Birds would take lead at 16-14 and came out of the break strong getting two kills from Cordonier, Richey and
Shanice Marcelle taking a 2-1 lead with a 25-19 set win.
Four T-Birds registered double figures in kills with Marcelle notching 12 and Hinze 10.
"We now have to re-focus and get ready for Manitoba," said Reimer about the T-Birds' opponent in the CW Championship game. "I think we caught them by surprise a bit in our first two meetings this year [both 3-0 wins] but with the talent they have on their team and getting to play at home, we won't be able to do that again."
The T-Birds will try and defend their Canada West title against the Mantioba Bisons tomorrow night. Regina faces the Trinity Western Spartans with the third and final CW berth at nationals on the line. The bronze game goes at 4:00 p.m. PST followed by UBC and Manitoba at 6:00 p.m.
