In a battle between the top two teams in the Canada West Conference standings, the #1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds defeated the #5 ranked Winnipeg Wesmen 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17) Friday evening at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg.
The victory improves UBC's record to 14-1, Winnipeg with the loss stands at 12-5.
"I was very pleased with our effort tonight, not just that we battled for the win, but that given the circumstances especially with Brina getting hurt part way through the second set," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "We had a lot of people play well and in particular ack up setter
Kirsty Setterlund did a great job stepping in."
Fifth year left side
Kyla Richey led UBC with a match high 17 kills.
Shanice Marcelle added 15. Marcelle also led the team with 20 defensive digs and three service aces.
Rayel Quiring and Jessica Von Schilling were in on six blocks each. Setter
Kirsty Setterlund had 32 assists.
First year left side Ozana Nikolic and third year left side Carleen Kruschel led Winnipeg with 13 kills each. Fifth year middle Lauren Sears had 10 kills and four blocks. Libero Tesca Andrew-Wasylik finished with a match high 23 digs. Setter Brittany Habing had 40 assists.
The teams started the opening set exchanging points with no team leading by more than one point until The T-Birds led at 11-9. UBC carried the lead to the technical break ahead 16-13. The T-Birds built a 24-19 lead late in the set but a determined Wesmen squad staved off three set points to close the gap to 24-22. A kill by
Lisa Barclay closed out the set with UBC winning 25-22.
In the second set, UBC scored the first two points but with Ozana Nikolic serving, the Wesmen reeled off five straight points to take the lead at 5-2. UBC was able to regain the lead at the midway point of the set holding a 16-13 lead at the set break. The T-Birds went on to outscore the Wesmen 9-4 down the stretch to win the set 25-17.
Winnipeg came out firing in the third set thanks to timely kills and strong serving. Service aces by Kruschel and Habing helped the Wesmen jump out to a 11-9 lead. After a UBC timeout, the Wesmen with kills by Erika Buchanan, Nikolic and Kruschel and a service ace by Lauren Sears gave the Wesmen a 16-13 lead at the technical timeout. UBC managed to knot the score at 17-17 when Winnipeg reeled off three straight points to take a 20-17 lead on their way to winning the set by a score of 25-19.
After a tight opening fourth set, UBC managed to pull away and hold a 16-11 lead at the technical timeout. The Wesmen fought back to close the gap to 18-16 but kills by Richey down the stretch helped the T-Birds close out the match winning the fourth set 25-17.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre. Match time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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