FREDERICTON, NB – The UBC Thunderbirds men's volleyball got 15 kills from rookie
Jarrid Ireland (1st, Winnipeg, MB) as it scored a straight sets victory over the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in an exhibition match on Wednesday at the Currie Centre in Fredericton.
UBC and UNB battled to a close first set, which ended 25-23 in favour of the Thunderbirds, who got better as the match continued.
UBC won the next two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-17.
The game allowed UBC's younger players to gain valuable experience as many veterans were rested.
Outside hitter
David Zeyha (Grande Prairie, AB) chipped in with 12 kills for the Thunderbirds while teammate
Ian Perry (2nd, Abbotsford, BC) recorded 18 digs to lead the team defensively.
UBC held the Varsity Reds to a hitting percentage of .172 in the match.
It was the second straight UBC win over the Fredericton school. The Thunderbirds also won 3-0 on Tuesday night by set scores of 25-8, 26-24 and 25-18.
Ireland and
Robert Bennett (5th, Vancouver, BC) both notched nine kills to lead UBC in that offensive category, while Perry had 18 kills.
The two wins in Fredericton rounds out a four-game Atlantic tour for the Thunderbirds, who started out the week with two close, five-set losses to Dalhousie University in Halifax.
UBC will travel to Kingston, Ontario to take part in the Queen's University Coast 2 Coast Classic.
The Thunderbirds' first match will be on Friday at noon Pacific Time against the McMaster University Marauders of Hamilton.
