VANCOUVER - Fifth-year libero
Blair Bann set a single season Canada West digs record and posted his 1000th career dig in the process to help his UBC Thunderbirds down the Regina Cougars 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 24-26, 25-20) on Saturday night at War Memorial Gym.
Bann entered the night just one dig shy of Jamie Benkie's single season record of 258 digs, and it didn't take long for the reigning CIS Libero of the Year to overtake him. He grabbed five digs in the first set to set the record and give the Regina offence a major headache. They would commit 11 errors in the frame and hit just .025 as a team to spot the 'Birds a 1-0 lead.
Bann then capped off his final home game as a T-Bird with an impressive personal milestone, reaching his 1000th career dig midway through the second set. He has plenty of breathing room between himself and the 738 digs that mark second place on the Canada West career digs list. He totaled 15 on the night, giving him 1007 for his career.
"He's the best, and everybody knows it," said UBC head coach
Richard Schick. "It wouldn't be as special if he wasn't the individual that he is. He is such a special guy, special teammate, and he deserves every accolade he's got. Every single one of them."
The T-Birds would again stymie the Cougar attack in the second set, forcing eight errors and holding them to .036 hitting en route to a 2-0 lead.
UBC was looking unstoppable after two sets, with just four errors during that stretch, but they came back down to earth in the third. The Cougars managed to limit their errors in the frame, and the three-pronged attack of Brody Waddell, Jamie Wilkins and Taylor Anderson combined for nine kills in the third to help the visitors edge the 'Birds and force a fourth set.
It looked like the 'Birds would breeze through the fourth set early on, as they lead by as many as six points before the Cougars clawed their way back into contention, trailing just 18-17. But a quick 5-0 UBC run, capped off by a monster solo block from
Demijan Savija, gave the 'Birds the cushion they needed to hold on for a 3-1 win.
Savija led the T-Birds with 12 kills while adding 10 digs, four block-assists and a solo block.
Yari Kozel was the top blocker, piling up six block-assists as well as a solo effort.
Tanner Kozak had 11 kills and was deadly in the serving game, picking up four aces on Saturday.
Anderson led the Cougars with 12 kills and 10 digs. Wadell and Wilkins each finished with nine kills.
At 7-9 on the year, the T-Birds are already assured of a playoff spot, though they can finish no higher than fifth place, which means they will be statistical underdogs come the postseason. That doesn't mean a thing to Schick though, who says his side can compete with any team in the conference if they bring their best game.
"We can be our own worst enemy," said Schick. "I feel that the only time we've been beat was against Trinity in the first week of the season. A lot of the time we beat ourselves, but I don't feel like too many teams have beat us. We definitely know that. Nobody is going to beat us."
The T-Birds wrap up the regular season with an important matchup against Thompson Rivers, who they are currently tied with in the standings. The Cougars fall to 2-14 with the loss, and will finish their season at home against Saskatchewan.
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