VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's volleyball team fell 3-1 in a Friday night battle with the Saskatchewan Huskies at War Memorial Gym.
 
The final set scores were 22-25, 25-19, 21-25, and 17-25.
 
"I think Saskatchewan came out and played aggressively, as you have to do," said UBC head coach Richard Schick after the match. "It seemed that everything that they touched turned to gold, and for us, we couldn't find an answer. For the most part, I think this game was there for whomever wanted it, and I think they went out and grabbed it."
 
The Huskies got a monster game out of fifth-year senior Andrew Nelson, as the 6-foot-7 outside hitter racked up 21 kills, while adding an ace and three blocks. Jordan Nowakowski and Tyler Epp were also terrific, notching 12 and nine kill apiece. Epp also picked up team-highs six blocks and two aces.
 
The 'Birds were led on the attack by Irvan Brar's (Surrey, B.C.) 12 kills and two aces, both team highs. Senior setter Milan Nikic (Calgary) also had an active night, collecting team-best marks in digs (seven) and assists (32). 
 
The 'Birds and Huskies were in lockstep for most of the first frame, with the latter going on their first extended run of the contest at the most opportune time – Saskatchewan ripped off four of five points to turn the match from a 19-19 draw to their 24-20 advantage.
 
Brar, after getting two points back for UBC on a kill and subsequent service ace, gave the Huskies the 25-22 opening set win with a service attempt that hit the net.
 
The middle of the second frame finally saw the 'Birds create some separation of their own, as they opened up their largest lead of the game to that point heading into the technical timeout, up 16-11
 
One of the highlights of the entire match came with the 'Birds up 21-17 in the second stanza, as an attempted kill bounced off of Mat Guidi's (Coquitlam, B.C.) face, giving Jarrid Ireland (Winnipeg, Man.) enough time to get it over. The 'Birds ended up winning that point.
 
After the Huskies got the next two points, Schick called a timeout to refocus his squad.
 
It turned out to be a good move, as Brar came out of the break and delivered a hammer kill before adding an ace for good measure. The 'Birds took the second set on the next ball, as a net violation was called on the Huskies.
 
Saskatchewan looked to retake the momentum from the hosts in the early portion of the third frame, taking a 13-8 lead.
 
After a service error gave UBC the ball back, Guidi delivered a vicious kill on the next point, jumping up from the backline and slamming the ball at the Huskies with abandon.
 
Just minutes later, though, like UBC in the frame prior, Saskatchewan held a 16-11 lead heading into the technical timeout.
 
Down 14-19, the 'Birds started making some headway, as they reeled of a 6-3 run to close the gap to just two points.
 
From that point on, Saskatchewan retook control, and claimed the third frame on a cross-court attempt from Brar that went just wide of the right sideline.
 
Well into the fourth set, Ireland and Nowakowski traded monster kills as the two Canada West foes battled to a 9-9 stalemate. A screaming ace from Epp gave the Huskies some breathing room heading into the technical timeout, leading 16-13.
 
Coming out of the break on an 8-2 run, including a brilliantly-placed block from Nelson that tagged the backline, put the Huskies up 24-15.
 
The 'Birds recovered the next two points, but Nelson finished the match off 25-17 with a kill soon after.
 
The T-Birds will get a shot to earn the split tomorrow, as they square off against the Huskies once more. The game, which again will take place at War Memorial Gym, is set to start at 6:30 p.m. (PT).