WINNIPEG - The No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds defeated the No. 5 ranked Winnipeg Wesmen 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-16) in the wrap up match of the weekend series at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg.
The victory improves UBC's record to 15-1. The Wesmen sit with a record of 12-6.
Lisa Barclay led the T-Birds with a match high 15 kills.
Shanice Marcelle added 14 while
Kyla Richey finished with 13. Marcelle led the team with 16 defensive digs.
Jessica von Schilling was in on six blocks.
Brina Derksen-Bergen had 41 assists.
Fifth year middle Lauren Sears led the Wesmen with 14 kills and two blocks. Ozana Nikolic was next with 13 kills. Carleen Kruschel and Tesca Andrew-Wasylik shared the team league in digs with 13 each. Kruschel served up three aces. Setter Brittany Habing had 39 assists.
In the opening set UBC opened up an early 7-4 lead, but Winnipeg responded scoring four of the next five points to tie the set at 8-8. The teams exchanged points and at the technical timeout UBC held a slim 16-15 lead. The teams were deadlocked at 20-20 when Lauren Sears pounded home three kills to give Winnipeg a 24-23 lead. A service error by
Lisa Barclay gave Winnipeg the first set by a score of 25-23.
The defending CIS champions jumped back into the match in a big way in the second set. UBC built a 7-1 lead and continued to lead 16-7 at the technical timeout before eventually winning the set 25-13.
In the third set the T-Birds once again got off to a great start leading 10-4 in the early stages and holding a 16-10 lead at the technical timeout. Winnipeg did fight back late in the set staving off a pair off set points until a kill by
Rosie Schlagintweit gave UBC the third set by a score of 25-21.
Winnipeg battled in the fourth set and only trailed by a pair (16-14) at the technical timeout. The T-Birds went on a set ending 9-2 run soon after that to win the fourth set 25-16.
UBC will be at home next weekend against Brandon. The Wesmen will have a short week playing on Wednesday night at home against the Manitoba Bisons in the 21st Annual Duckworth Challenge.
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