VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's volleyball team, ranked fifth in the CIS, completed the weekend sweep of the visiting MacEwan Griffins (1-11) before heading into the winter break with a mid-season record of 8-4.
 
UBC secured the four-set victory by scores of 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-11.
 
Despite the strong efforts of MacEwan, UBC still managed the win thanks in part to 10 kills from Irvan Brar (Surrey, B.C.), Alex Russell (Surrey, B.C.) and Mat Guidi (Coquitlam, B.C.). Brar and Guidi also combined for 33 digs, while Milan Nikic (Calgary, Alta.) logged 21 assists.
 
Ryan McDonald knocked down 13 kills for MacEwan, followed by Edward McDonald with 11 and Max Vriend with 10.
 
UBC head coach Richard Schick believes these types of hard fought matches are good for his team as they present challenges not normally faced in practice.
 
"[We have] areas to improve on, which is good. We knew they were going to play better tonight. When teams push us, then we gauge how hard our pushback is."
 
The lead continually changed hands throughout the early first set. A pair of kills from Guidi commenced a UBC run that ended with a 10-5 lead.
 
The Griffins answered back with their own 5-1 surge, which included a series of UBC errors and an ace from Edward McDonald, and tied things up at 15 all.
 
A pair of sets from Nikic and kills by Russell helped the 'Birds jump ahead to a 21-18 advantage. The Griffins weren't able to make a comeback before a kill from Joel Regehr (Courtenay, B.C.) closed out the set at 25-19.
 
The Griffin's solid team play was on display throughout the second set. Despite an early UBC lead, MacEwan won five straight points ahead to a 13-9 lead, thanks in part to kills from Vriend and Ryan and Edward McDonald.
 
A service error from the Griffins coupled with an ace from Nikic brought UBC back to within two.
 
Things stayed tight for the reminder of the set. A kill from Byron Keturakis (Surrey, B.C.) gave UBC a 22-21 lead, but Ryan McDonald's ace and kills from Vriend and Kai Hesthammer helped lift the Griffins to their first set win of the weekend.
 
With things knotted at a set apiece, both teams battled hard in the third. There were 21 tie scores throughout the second and third sets, showing just how close these two teams were.
 
A trio of MacEwan errors and a kill from veteran Alex Russell (Surrey B.C.) provided UBC with a 17-13 lead, the only four-point gap of the set.
 
Back-to-back aces from Vriend brought the Griffins back to within one, trailing 17-16. They were tied 22-22 UBC won the last three points to take the 2-1 lead with a slim 25-22 effort.
 
The Thunderbirds closed out the match decisively in the fourth.
 
Kills from Jarrid Ireland (Winnipeg) and Russell set the 'Birds off on what would become an eventual 18-8 lead. UBC never allowed MacEwan to build any momentum, as the visitors didn't win more than three points in a row in the fourth. The T-Birds eventually claimed the set 25-11.
 
While Schick still sees room for improvement, he believes this early part of the season has proved his team has what it takes.
 
"I think we're still looking to play our best ball…In this league to have eight wins at the half way point is definitely a good start."
 
Both teams will be off for the winter break, resuming their seasons in January.
 
MacEwan will host Winnipeg on Jan. 8-9, while the Thunderbirds will host Brandon the following weekend, Jan. 15-16.