VANCOUVER- After dropping a dramatic first frame the UBC Thunderbirds battled back to win three straight sets and defeat the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack 3-1 (29-31, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20) Friday afternoon at War Memorial Gym.
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Matt Neaves recorded a game high 15 kills and four service aces to lead the T-Birds while Colton Liu added 11 kills and two service aces for the hosts who now won five straight games to improve to 6-4 on the season. Nimo Benne registered a team high 13 kills while Charlie Bringloe added another 10 kills for TRU who fall to 1-6 on the campaign.
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"I thought we did a good job coming out with energy and I thought TRU was a little flat," said UBC head coach
Mike Hawkins but it doesn't take a whole lot for them to get going and once they do they like to play with emotion and I thought they did a great job coming back in that first set. I then challenged our guys, demanded more in terms of how we're playing as a team, that's been a big emphasis the last couple of weeks, how we're playing as a team and being a collective rather than a group of individuals that are obviously talented. Once we woke up a bit in that sense, I thought then we could play our style, our game and that's why we came away with three straight sets."
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The first set was an absolute roller coaster that saw the teams battle to an even 10-10 score line before UBC would go on a mini run leading to a 16-13 advantage at the technical timeout. The T-Birds appeared to be in control after a
Nick Mickelberry tip gave the hosts a 24-20 set point lead but the Wolfpack scored the next four points to prolong the opening frame. Both teams would continue to trade points leading to a Neaves service ace and a 29-28 'Birds lead but TRU responded yet again with the next two points punctuated by a key Anton Napolitano block to give the visitors a 31-29 first set win. Neaves led UBC with seven kills followed by Dowhaniuk with four while for TRU it was Bringloe, Benne, Joshua Mullaney and Sam Taylor-Parks who all registered three kills each.
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The second period was also very close and midway through it was a
Michael Dowhaniuk service ace that helped UBC to a 16-15 advantage at the technical timeout. As the frame progressed it was a big kill from Liu giving the 'Birds a 24-21 set point lead but once again TRU made life difficult thanks to back-to-back demonstrative kills from Kyle Behiels to pull within one at 24-23 and causing a T-Birds timeout. Out of the break it was the Wolfpack that served into the net giving the 'Birds a 25-23 second set victory to tie the match 1-1.
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With TRU enjoying a 12-10 lead in the third set it was UBC head coach
Mike Hawkins taking a timeout for a chance to deliver a spirited message for his team to bear down the rest of the way. They responded by scoring the next three points but it was the Wolfpack that claimed the 16-14 lead at the technical timeout. The 'Birds would battle back thanks to a Deshane tip, a Neaves Kill and a
Ben Hooker ace for a 24-21 advantage before TRU scored two straight punctuated by a Benne block to pull within one at 24-23 and causing a UBC timeout. Out of the break it was Liu's third kill of the set and eighth of the match giving UBC the 25-23 win and 2-1 advantage.
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The fourth and final set was highlighted by a Deshane Kill to give UBC a 16-12 lead at the technical timeout followed by Neaves delivering the second of his four service aces to go up 19-15. Liu's third kill of the frame led to match point before it was time for Neaves to leave a final imprint on the outing with a big block for the 25-20 win and 3-1 victory.
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The teams meet again Saturday evening with a 6:30 p.m. PT start time at War Memorial Gym.
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