VANCOUVER –
Gabrielle Attieh and
Jayde Robertsen delivered standout efforts in downing the Regina Cougars in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21) Friday night at War Memorial Gym.
The victory halted a two-game slide for the T-Birds who entered the night tied with the idle Winnipeg Wesmen for the eighth and final Canada West playoff berth.
Gabrielle Attieh led the T-Birds with 14 kills while
Jayde Robertsen covered much of the court in gathering eight kills and a game high six blocks.
Tessa Davis added six kills and
Olivia Furlan stepped up for a game high six aces.
For the Cougars it was Jessica Lerminiaux setting the pace with 10 kills while Caitlyn Spurr and Emma Matheson added seven kills each.
"I thought the strength of our play was in our serving and maintaining our serving runs," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "That's been something we've been focusing on and I thought we got good production and connection out of our middle attack, so it's nice to see a few of the things we're working on come through here. Our execution still needs to be crisper regardless of situation so without overtrying we have to be better in all sorts of uncertain situations so we can be more effective in transition."
The Cougars jumped out to a good road start earning the first three points and a 4-1 lead following a Lumbala kill but the T-Birds battled back with kills from Davis, Robertsen and
Heather Pippus among others in turning the tables for an 8-5 lead, causing Regina to call their first timeout. Following the break, the Birds increased their lead to 18-10 on the strength of a couple of aces from Davis and Furlan ahead of an
Erika Vermette kill pushing to set point at 24-19. Securing victory for UBC was another ace their fifth of the opening frame courtesy of
Cara Kovacs and a 25-19 first set win. Attieh had a set high five kills for the hosts while Furlan added a set high three aces. Leading the way for the Cougars was Jessica Lerminiaux and Caitlyn Spurr with four kills each.
The 'Birds continued their effective play into the second period as evidenced by back-to-back demonstrative blocks from Robertsen and Davis to take a 10-6 lead. A couple more kills from Robertsen allowed UBC to double their advantage at 14-7 before an emphatic response kill from Lerminiaux gave the visitors a visible boost trailing 14-8. The T-Birds would keep a comfortable separation on the strength Attieh racking up five more kills the rest of the way including the winning point giving UBC the 25-17 decision. Attieh added to her game high 10 kills while Robertsen chipped in with another four kills. Lerminiaux stood tall for Regina with four more kills.
Into the third set it was UBC who built a 13-8 lead following Robertsen's fifth block of the evening but the Cougars answered back with help from a Lerminiaux kill to pull within one at 15-14 and causing the hosts to call a timeout. Following the break kills by Covacs, Attieh and Davis helped push the 'Birds to match point at 24-20 before Robertsen was heard from again with an off-speed tip over the block for the 25-21 win to complete the 3-0 straight sets sweep.
The T-Birds and Cougars meet again on Saturday night for a rematch just after 7:00 p.m. PT at War Memorial Gym.
