VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds took care of business on home court, sweeping the UBCO Heat 3-0 (25-23, 25-28, 25-23) to improve to 8-4 in Canada West action.
 
Irvan Brar was firing rockets from the service line for the 'Birds, finishing with 4 aces, while Byron Keturakis was a defensive dynamo and ended with 11 digs and 25 assists. Alex Swiatlowski was one of few bright spots for UBCO on the night with 7 kills and 7 digs.
 
After an up-and-down five-setter the night before, the T-Birds and Heat began the grudge match with an emotionally charged opening set. Brar earned the 'Birds their first point of the match on a kill, but UBCO was able to maintain a tight lead into the late stages of the game. At 21-21, Mat Guidi crushed one of his team-high 12 kills to take the lead and a cheeky chip by Jordan Deshane held the advantage at 23-22. Following a Guidi block to give UBC a set point, the dominant hitter capped off the set 25-23 with a rocket down the line.


 
In the second, Deshane got the ball rolling with an authoritative block before Brar took over and blasted three straight points off the serve. Deshane's floater serves effectively widened the lead to 14-3 as the home team continued to prey on the Heat back line. UBC Head Coach Kerry MacDonald took the chance to make some key substitutions and the Heat narrowed the deficit to 17-13 before T-Birds reset and took the second set 25-18.
 
With all eleven players on the roster drawing into the lineup for the first time, MacDonald knew the experience was valuable.
 
"That is one of our strengths, we definitely have some depth and got some younger guys in with some leads and opportunities to put them in good situations. I thought they did a great job. It's always nerve-wracking for the first year guys getting in for the first time but it was great tonight."


 
UBCO stormed out to a 4-1 advantage to start the third thanks to a blistering kill by Swiatlowski and some deft service from Adam Schwarz. But the 'Birds responded as Keturakis served up an ace to climb within one at 4-3. On a Cam Fennema miss, the Heat widened the gap to 8-3 and neutralized the Thunderbird attack – but not for long. Brar took off with authority from the back row to punish a kill and make it 9-6, then Deshane dropped his third ace to draw even at 9-9.  A mad scramble was punctuated by one of Brar's 9 kills to make it 15-13 UBC and, despite a late Heat push, the home team stormed back to a 25-23 win to take the match in straight sets.

That's some serious D!! ?? ???? @ubcmvb lead @UBCOHeat 2 sets to 0.
Watch live on https://t.co/4c6P1khTId #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/duiOtKenQ7

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) January 8, 2017

 
Brar was happy with how his team reacted to adversity against the division rivals.
 
"It did get tight, we let points kind of compound on each other but I'm glad we pulled it out. We always get into a little bit of trouble with these guys, but they played great. Hats off to them…we just played a little bit better.

The Thunderbirds head out on the road to take on the formidable 11-1 Manitoba Bisons next weekend in a two-game series.