VANCOUVER – Jay Olmstead's final regular season game for Alberta was a big one, as the fifth-year outside hitter notched 27 kills to lead the Bears to a 3-1 win (22-25, 27-25, 27-25, 25-17) over UBC in Friday's finale, but the Thunderbirds will still earn the second playoff seed over the Golden Bears by virtue of the tiebreaker.
BOX SCORE
"We battled tough again but petered off towards the end," said UBC head coach
Richard Schick. "We were able to get lots of guys into the match and give a bit of rest to our starters going into the playoffs next weekend."
Both teams finish the regular season at 15-7, but UBC will get the second seed and Alberta will be third based on the T-Birds' superior sets won to sets lost ratio, which was confirmed when the visitors took the opening set. They both earn home court advantage for round one of the conference playoffs.
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After the T-Birds jumped out in front by taking set one, the Bears grabbed all the momentum by edging them in two straight extra long sets, both of which the 'Birds had good chances to win. The Bears were fully in control by the fourth set, and they outhit the T-Birds 30 per cent to 24 per cent for the match.
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UBC also took the opportunity, after winning set one and locking up the second seed, to rest the starters a bit and get other players into the mix. Rookie hitter Matt Guidi led the 'Birds with 12 kills, and
Austin Hinchey took over at setter for
Milan Nikic. Fifth-year 6-foot-10 middle blocker
Parker Jobin also put in some good court time in the last three sets.
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Trinity Western had first place and the first-round bye locked up weeks ago. They will host the Final Four in Langley in two weeks. The T-Birds take second, and will face the seventh-seeded Brandon Bobcats in round one of the Canada West playoffs.
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UBC will play at War Memorial Gym on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14 at 7 p.m., and game three, if necessary, would be Saturday at 2 p.m.
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