EDMONTON - The top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds got their CIS Championship title defence off to a perfect start with a 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-17, 25-13) over the eighth-seeded St. Mary's Huskies in their quarterfinal match at University of Alberta's West Gym in Edmonton.
With the win, UBC advances to the semi-final round of the CIS Championship on Saturday (5:30 p.m. PST). The two-time defending champions will meet the Laval Rouge et Or with a spot in the championship final on the line after Laval beat Regina 3-0 in their quarterfinal match.
In today's match, the T-Birds took control of the net and never allowed the AUS Champion Huskies to find their rhythm.
All-Canadian seniors
Jen Hinze, UBC's player of the match, and
Liz Cordonier led the way for the T-Birds.
Cordonier tallied nine kills, two solo blocks, and one block assist while Hinze added nine kills on just 14 attacks with no errors (.643 hitting) for the T-Birds.
"Jen was good for us today. She brought a very physical game offensively and they had to respect that. Liz set a great tone early in terms of her attacking and she made good reads all game at the net. They both brought a lot of aggression to their front row play," said Reimer of his two standouts.
The T-Birds out blocked the Huskies 9-4 on the afternoon and piled up 47 kills on just 90 attacks while limiting the Huskies to 23 kills and inducing 18 errors.
Fifth-year setter
Katie Tyzuk directed a smooth-running UBC offence with 40 set assists wand her favourtie target, second-year
Shanice Marcelle, ended with a match-high 12 kills on 24 swings.
Despite the significant advantage held by the T-Birds at the end of all three sets, the Huskies were able to keep it close early in the first and second frame.
UBC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set but the Huskies got over their early match jitters and it was 10-9 for the 'Birds before they pulled away down the stretch.
The second set was back and forth from the get-go and UBC only led 8-7 at the first technical timeout. They slowly increased their lead once again before pulling away.
The Huskies had no response for UBC in the third set and committed nine errors en route to the most lopsided frame of the match.
"The first two sets were close but I liked that we were making errors of commission. We were really going for it both serving and attacking so we might have missed a few too many but it was aggressive which is what you want," observed Reimer.
UBC now turns their focus to Laval, a team they beat 3-0 in a 2009 CIS Championship semi-final.
Reimer believes the QSSF silver medallists will bring a tough, gritty style to tomorrow's match.
"Laval makes you fight for every point, so we need to be prepared for a tough match," added Reimer.
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