LANGLEY, B.C. – For the second night in a row the UBC Thunderbirds knocked off the No. 1-ranked Trinity Western women's volleyball team at the Langley Events Centre, this time via straight sets (25-20, 25-23, 25-18) to extend the 'Birds' win streak to five.

Led by Kiera Van Ryk, who finished the match with 19 kills with a .485 hitting percentage, UBC (13-7) earned the three-set win to complete a weekend sweep of the previously undefeated Spartans (16-2). 

"Our level of consistency and composure at key times was really good," said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. "We knew we couldn't sit back and had to keep attacking, it was great to see so many people step up really well, especially near the end of close sets."



Beyond Van Ryk, UBC's Victoria Behie and Tessa Davis had seven kills each, while setter Olivia Furlan, who guided the T-Birds to a .317 hitting percentage, had 41 assists to go along with five blocks.

The Spartans' Hilary Howe led TWU with nine kills while Savannah Purdy had five kills and Ashtyn McKenzie had four kills, three blocks and a .333 hitting percentage. TWU finished the night hitting .130.

UBC opened a 12-6 lead in the first set and held an edge the rest of the way. The Spartans clawed back within two points after a kill from Howe made it 16-14. The teams traded points until 20-18, but a 4-0 run from the visitors all but sealed the opening set. After two Spartan points, a Van Ryk kill ended it. Van Ryk had a set-high six kills for UBC while Howe had four kills to lead TWU.



The Spartans came out flying in the second set, grabbing a 7-4 lead before extending it to 14-9. However, the T-Birds roared back, evening the set 14-14. The teams went back and forth down the stretch, but a late call went UBC's way to give the T-Birds a 24-21 lead. TWU tallied the next two points, but Van Ryk's sixth kill of the frame gave UBC the set. 

The third set was close early, but back-to-back blocks from UBC capped a 4-0 run that helped the T-Birds to a 12-8 lead. TWU closed to within one point, after a Purdy kill made it 15-14, but the T-Birds never allowed the home side any closer. A late run from UBC saw the T-Birds cruise to a seven-point victory.

"The progress in the last few weeks has been very noticeable and it's been rewarding to see that come through in our results," added Reimer who knew his team would face a motivated Spartans squad only to see the 'Birds play even better than they did the night before. "We need to make sure we follow this up with two good weeks of training, especially this week with a bye."

Following this coming weekend's bye, the 'Birds will begin the final stretch drive towards the post-season hosting the Winnipeg Wesmen February 8 and 9 at War Memorial Gym.