SASKATOON – The No. 8-ranked UBC Thunderbirds opened the Canada West women's volleyball season with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 26-24) road win over the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night at the PAC in Saskatoon.
 
It was the first match of the season for both teams.
 
"It looked like the first game of the year in the sense that there were a lot of ups and downs in our play," said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. "Our main positive was our ability to play well after 20 points, especially in the third set where we were down a long way and came back."
 
Saskatchewan made a strong bid for a comeback in the first set. UBC led 15-8 before the Huskies went on a five-point run to pull within two points. Emily Humbert recorded two blocks in the run. A Marguerite Ferguson attack gave the Huskies a 19-18 lead. The teams traded the lead five times before an Alessandra Gentile service ace gave UBC the 27-25 win.
 


The Huskies jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the second set before the T-Birds crawled back into the set.  A Shae Beaulieu service ace and two kills by Victoria Behie kills gave UBC a 21-20 lead. Maggie Li, Emily Cicon and Danielle Brisebois closed out the set for the T-Birds for a 25-21 win.
 
Once again, the Huskies jumped out to a large lead – this time nine points: 13-4 and at the technical timeout 16-7.  Slowly UBC was able to get back into the set, winning six of the seven points immediately after the timeout.
 
The T-Birds still trailed 22-16 but went on a 7-1 run to level the score at 23-23. Gabrielle Attieh knocked down a kill and then delivered a service ace to start the surge. Emmalyn Copping made it 24-23 for Saskatchewan with a kill, giving her team set point. But Brisebois got two kills in row to set up UBC's first match point, which was converted when Ciara Hanly and Gentile combined on a block to close the match 26-24.
 
Brisebois led the T-Birds on offence, tallying 13 kills, and added eight digs. Behie pitched in recording another six kills for UBC, while Hanly had five. Behie led the T-Birds with nine digs.
 


Outside hitters Copping and Sabrina Balisky each recorded a team-high eight kills for the Huskies. Libero Jennifer Hueser made eight digs.
 
"I thought Saskatchewan played hard and played really well defensively and did lots of good things so I don't want to take anything away from their play but I know our group feels we can play with a little bit more grit and lot more consistency as move forward in the season," said Reimer.
 
The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the PAC. The opening serve is slated for 6 p.m. local time / 5 p.m. PT.