VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds fell in four sets Friday night in Kamloops, B.C., to the host Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
 
UBC won the opening set 25-19, but were upended by TRU in the next three 25-18, 28-26, and 25-14.
 
Jordan Deshane and James Takken had seven kills each to lead the Thunderbirds (0-3). Middle Joel Regehr had six kills and three service aces. Setter Zec Johnson had 19 assists, eight digs and six service aces.

"We understood how our tactics and style of play would influence what they do," said interim UBC head coach Mike Hawkins. "I thought our block defence did a good job in the first set holding them at bay. The following three sets they were significantly more efficient out of system than we were."
 
Friday night marked a return home for Hawkins and assistant coach Matt Krueger, both former WolfPack players and coaches. Hawkins served as TRU's interim head coach two seasons ago after competing for the WolfPack as a player. Krueger was an assistant coach and player. Both were honoured along with other TRU alumni as the 'Pack unveiled their 'Wall of Fame.'
 

An early 6-0 run put the hosts ahead 8-4, but the T-Birds replied by winning six of the next seven points that was capped off by a pair of Deshane aces. Deshane and rookie Michael Dowhaniuk later teamed up on a block to give a 21-15 lead that held up for the rest of the set.
 
The two players repeated their feat in the second set to bring UBC to within a point of TRU at 11-10, but the WolfPack were able to build momentum after that play. After Charlie Bringloe's kill, the home side was up 21-15.
 
The Thunderbirds showed great resilience in the third set down 24-18, winning the next seven points, including three on Johnson aces, to go ahead 25-24. However, the T-Birds couldn't take their opportunity to win the set at 25-24, and 26-25. A pair of Kyle Behiels kills created a sixth set point chance, which was finally converted on an ace from Anton Napolitano.
 
UBC was down 13-12 in the fourth set but TRU reeled off the next eight points to effectively end the match.
The two teams will play again Saturday night at 6:45 p.m. at the Tournament Capital Centre.
 
- with files from Larry Read (Thompson Rivers WolfPack)