VANCOUVER - The top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds swept away the Thompson Rivers WolfPack at home this weekend, completing the task with another 3-0 win (25-13, 25-19. 25-15) on Saturday night at War Memorial Gym to keep hold of first place in Canada West.
The T-Birds relied on an absolutely dominant blocking effort to beat the WolfPack on Friday, and while the blockers were solid again Saturday, it was a more rounded effort overall by the 'Birds with fewer unforced errors that got the job done.
UBC hit an impressive .354 in the match while holding the WolfPack to .065 hitting. They also included some different players in the rotation, such as
Mariah Bruinsma taking
Jessica von Schilling's place in the middle, and
Rosie Schlagintweit getting more chances to attack from the outside.
"I think it was a great match for us using different lineups and combinations," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "What's rewarding about that is seeing a lot of people come in and not miss a beat. I just think it gives us so many different weapons and different looks that will help with matchups."
Schlagintweit tied for the team lead with seven kills on .417 hitting, and Bruinsma was in on two blocks while adding four kills on just six attacks. Kristy Setterlund also added eight assists while giving
Brina Derksen-Bergen a break from her setter duties.
First-year
Alissa Coulter even got in on the act, coming up with a big kill on match point in the second set on her only swing of the night.
"We can train against each other and create competitive opportunities in training, but when you actually sub into a game and you have to serve, have to make a pass, it's a different thing and the more opportunities you get to do that, the more comfortable you can be," Reimer said.
The second set was the closest of the three until Abigail Keeping led the 'Birds on a 5-0 run that got them some separation from the visitors. She had two kills and a block during that run, which gave UBC a 20-12 lead.
Shanice Marcelle led the charge in the third set, earning four of UBC's last five points of that frame. She had three kills and an ace in that stretch to set up match point, and Schlagintweit and Bruinsma combined for the block to give UBC the win.
Kelly Asleson was the lone bright spot for the WolfPack, racking up 10 kills on .429 hitting in the match. She was the only WolfPack player with a positive hitting percentage on Saturday other than Katarina Osadchuk's three kills on .154 hitting.
The WolfPack fall to 4-10 on the year, and have some ground to make up if they want to climb back into playoff position. They currently sit just one spot out of a playoff berth in eighth place, and have a crucial series at home next weekend against sixth-place Brandon.
The T-Birds remain in first place at 11-1, but must now prepare for a very tough two-week stretch. They host 8-3 Manitoba next weekend at War Memorial before a road series against 12-2 Winnipeg the following week.
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