CALGARY – After starting the season with seven straight losses, the UBC Thunderbirds finished the year with nine wins in their last ten, completing the weekend sweep of the Dinos with a straight sets victory (25-20, 25-23, 25-23) Saturday afternoon at Jack Simpson Gym.

After UBC took the first match on Friday afternoon, the teams entered the game with identical records of 10-11, making the outcome of this match very important for playoff seeding. With the win, the Thunderbirds (11-11) will finish ahead of the Dinos (10-12) in the standings, allowing them to avoid matching up with 19-2 Brandon in the first round next weekend.

Keeping with the theme of Friday's game, the teams showed how evenly matched they were, as all three sets were tightly contested. The first set was the most lopsided as UBC would go on a 4-0 run with the score tied at 12-12, and would be able to hold on from there. UBC hit a blistering .480 in the set, leading to 15 kills and a 25-20 win.

The Thunderbirds were able to use the momentum from their first set victory to take a 9-4 lead early in set number two. However, the Dinos would battle back to tie it at 12-12, thanks in large part to Tim Taylor, who had five of his 12 kills in the set. The teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the set, until back-to-back Dinos attacking errors saw UBC close it out, 25-23.

With their backs against the wall, the Dinos would come out storming in the third, taking the first three points of the set. Thunderbird setter Ben Hooker, who had a game-high 36 assists in the match, would lead his team right back as he orchestrated four straight kills, allowing his team to tie the match at 4-4.

An incredible scramble by the Dinos late in the third set looked to give them the momentum they needed to send the match to a fourth. However, UBC hitter Michael Dowhaniuk was too much for the Dinos, as his three late kills would help his team to the 25-23 win.

Serving was key in this one, as even though the Thunderbirds had more service errors, they were able to out-ace the Dinos 6-0.

Dowhaniuk would lead the Thunderbirds offensively, contributing a game-high 15 kills. Matt Neaves would chip in with 10 kills of his own.

Liam Kuppe was a bright spot for the Dinos, as he had a season-high 14 kills on the afternoon.

Blain Cranston once again led the Dinos in assists, setting up his teammates 26 times.

The post-season will begin for both teams next weekend, as the Dinos will head to Brandon to take on the first-place Bobcats, while the Thunderbirds will take on either Trinity Western or Alberta.