VANCOUVER – The No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds celebrated another banner-raising night in style on Friday, downing the No.1 Trinity Western Spartans 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-22) to start the new season 1-0 while celebrating last year's fifth-straight national championship.
WVB: T-Birds v. TWU (Oct. 26, 2012) Gallery
The 'Birds were coming off a loss to the Spartans in their final preseason match, dropping them from first to second in the CIS rankings, but you wouldn't know it from Friday's contest.
“For a first league match our consistency and composure on the court was very steady throughout,” said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. “Our emotional level and how we played as a group was good.”
UBC got off to a hot start going up 5-0 in the first set, and that set the tone for the night. The T-Birds looked the part of defending national champs, limiting their errors and throwing many different looks at the Spartan defence.
Lisa Barclay (Brandon, MB) began the night with an ace and her serve helped the T-Birds get off to a quick start. She also added four kills in the first set, including a fantastic flat-footed slam from the back row on game point.
Set two was more closely contested to start with the teams tied at seven. An error gave the 'Birds a one point lead and that sparked them to a big 8-0 run to seize control of the set. They were in control the rest of the way and cruised to an easy win.
The third set was the only one in which UBC trailed for significant periods, but a big turning point came midway through on a big block from Barclay and middle
Jessica von Schilling (Victoria, BC) to tie the set at 12. That sent the crowd into a frenzy and seemed to reenergize the 'Birds.
A string of two straight kills and then a block from Barclay put UBC up 20-18. Middle
Abbey Keeping (Surrey, BC) had an important kill, a big block and an ace down the stretch to help set up match point, and
Rosie Schlagintweit (Abbotsford, BC) converted it with her third kill of the night.
Barclay finished with a match-high 13 kills while adding two aces and two blocks.
Reimer was happy with the play of his middles, as Keeping, von Schilling and
Mariah Bruinsma (Chilliwack, BC) all had strong games for the 'Birds, who were thin at the middle spot last season. All three players registered at least once ace as well.
“We're going to use all three middles this year,” Reimer said. “Abbey's strength is her offence there but all three are going to be really key to our play there this year and all three helped us from the serving line today as well.”
Tomorrow the T-Birds head out to Langley to wrap up their series with the Spartans on the road.
“It's a good challenge. Now we go into their place and the gym they are comfortable with,” said Reimer. “It's a different kind of rhythm there and it's going to be a good test for us. Can we play at that same level when there's a good chance they are playing a little better?”
The T-Birds' next home action is another big test next weekend, when they host the No. 3 Alberta Pandas.
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