EDMONTON – "It's not about starting 0-3, it's about finishing 3-0." The wisdom from now nine-time national champion
Doug Reimer proved not only accurate but prophetic as the UBC Thunderbirds earned a five-set come-from-behind victory over the Ryerson Rams to win the 2019 U SPORTS national championship Sunday night at the University of Alberta.
After dropping the first two sets to the defending champion Rams, the T-Birds sharpened up their game and never looked back, taking the last three frames to earn a 12th banner in team history, their second in the last three years.
2019 U SPORTS Player of the Year
Kiera Van Ryk added to her accolades as she was named tournament MVP, leading all players in Sunday's gold medal final with 24 kills.
Third-year setter
Olivia Furlan was also named a tournament all-star with 57 assists and 13 digs on Sunday, while
Tessa Davis also earned a tournament all-star nod with 15 kills and nine digs in the final.
"We were 0-3 in league but battling to even get into the top five in playoffs," said Reimer after receiving his eighth gold medal with the T-Birds and ninth overall. "Four weeks on the road, including this one, out of the past five. The resilience that they have showed over the season has made this special."
The Rams looked like the defending champions they were in the opening set, quickly staking out an 11-4 lead and eventually taking the opening set 25-15. The T-Birds had 11 kills in the frame to Ryerson's nine, but nine UBC attack errors compared to just one for the Rams proved to be a big difference.
The second set was a much tighter affair with UBC able to limit their errors while taking a 13-11 lead. But the Rams went on a 5-1 run capped off by a Theanna Vernon ace to enter the timeout up 16-14. UBC stayed close until the dying stages of the set where the Rams scored four straight to take it 25-20 and put the 'Birds on the ropes.
UBC got the solid start they needed in the third with Van Ryk getting on a service run to help the T-Birds to an 8-5 lead and a 16-12 advantage at the technical timeout. It might have taken over two sets to do so, but the T-Birds looked more like themselves in the third with good passing, fewer mistakes, and clutch play from everyone on the court. The improved play resulted in a 25-20 set win, the first set loss for the Rams all tournament.
UBC stayed strong to begin the fourth set and three straight kills from Davis gave the 'Birds a 7-4 lead. UBC led by as much as six points, but the Rams pulled within one before the T-Birds answered back with a
Jayde Robertsen kill and then benefitted from a Rams attack error to head into the technical timeout with a 16-13 advantage.
Momentum stayed with the T-Birds as they closed out the fourth 25-20 on .406 team hitting in the set, forcing a fifth and deciding frame for all the glory. Van Ryk had eight kills in the set alone while Davis added six.
UBC started the final set on a 3-0 run. Up 7-3, Furlan got the 'Birds to the set break with an ace off the tape and the strong UBC crowd at the Saville Centre roared in approval.
But the Rams sure weren't going away quietly as twice Ryerson came within just one point of the 'Birds. But after going up 13-11, UBC got to match point on a Rams service error and then closed out their eighth national title, very fittingly, with a Furlan assisted Van Ryk kill.
"I'm just so grateful that we were able to hang around and demonstrate our perseverance through tough situations," added Reimer. "I think it showcased our team and it showcased what the sport can be. No matter how long you've been doing this, every match is going to bring fresh challenges and this brought a whole lot of them. Ryerson was playing tremendously for two sets and we were completely back on our heels. Lots of things we did were good, but it wasn't nearly enough so it was the patience and perseverance to keep going."
The gold medal makes it 15 podium appearances for UBC in Reimer's 22 years at the helm (eight gold, four silver, and three bronze).
UBC finished the game with a .245 attack percentage to Ryerson's .197. That's after UBC started the match hitting just .062 in the opening set. The slow momentum swing was palpable over the course of the match, eventually shifting heavily into UBC's favour.
After their 0-3 start to the season, few would have foreseen UBC's eventual rise to yet another gold medal, but there's also a reason why few across the country ever discount
Doug Reimer and the UBC Thunderbirds, now national champions once again.
