VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (8-5) defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat (6-5) 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15) in their penultimate home court appearance presented in partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band.
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Michael Dowhaniuk had a team-high 15 kills and three aces for the T-Birds,
Zarley Zalusky had 11 kills with four total blocks,
Cole Brandsma tallied 10 kills, and
Duncan Clark put up nine kills in the victory.
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"We knew coming into things, with the guys we have injured and the quality of the opponent that we were playing, to get the result was going to require a really gritty effort," said UBC head coach
Mike Hawkins after an impressive performance without key starters
Matt Neaves and
Coltyn Liu. "We had a game plan to start
Tyson Smith on the left side to have a ball control lineup out there, but kudos to the Heat. They came out and put the pressure on us. I thought
Duncan Clark was the difference in the game. The way he came in – obviously he was extremely efficient – but the guy just brings a different type of joy and demeanour to the floor. It seemed like everybody else settled in when he entered the game."
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Maxwell Heppell led UBCO with 10 kills, Noah Carlson had eight kills, and Cameron Vanderveen added five kills with five digs and a block in the loss.
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The Heat started strong in the first set, but the T-Birds battled back – as Zalusky unloaded on a kill to bring UBC within three at 12-9, and the 'Birds drew within two after a thrilling defensive play from Smith led to a Heat error. UBCO widened their lead to five with a block by Zach van Geel and Caleb Funk at 19-14 and led 23-17 after back-to-back T-Bird errors. Zalusky responded with a big block, but a UBC service error lifted the Heat to a set point at 24-18. Dowhaniuk extended the set with a kill and Brandsma kept the 'Birds alive at 24-20 UBCO. After a Heat timeout, Carlson closed out the set with a kill at 25-20.
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Zach van Greel served up an ace to give UBCO an 8-2 lead in the second set as the Thunderbirds clawed back into a gritty set. Clark cranked a kill at 17-13 UBCO and Dowhaniuk came up with a solo block at 18-16 Heat. A Brandsma kill brought the 'Birds within one at 21-20, and a UBCO error tied it up at 21-21 before Dowhaniuk gave UBC the lead with a kill. Dowhaniuk then lifted the 'Birds to a set point with a timely ace and Brandsma closed it out with a kill at 25-23. Â
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UBC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set and led 12-7 after a Brandsma kill. Clark maintained the five-point T-Bird cushion with a kill at 15-10 before Dowhaniuk flew in for a massive backrow kill at 16-11. Dowhaniuk then put the 'Birds up six with a kill off the block at 20-14, but Heppell earned a big block for the Heat at 23-19 UBC and Jordan Simpson made it a two-point deficit at 23-21. The Thunderbirds held strong down the stretch and capped off the set with a Brandsma block – 25-22.
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The T-Birds led 6-2 in the fourth set after a Clark kill and extended their lead on a Brandsma kill at 14-7. Dowhaniuk made it 19-12 with a kill before serving up an ace at 21-13. UBC earned a match point on a Heat error and capped off the night with a monster Dowhaniuk kill – 25-15.
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UBC and UBCO will rematch on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on an evening that will honour graduating seniors
Jonathan Lee,
Coltyn Liu,
Zec Johnson,
Tyson Smith, and
Zarley Zalusky.
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"We have five guys moving on who have meant so much to the program – even the college transfers who have only been here for a couple of years – they're integral to who we are and what we do," added Hawkins. "I'm really excited for those guys. Seniors night is definitely a night you always remember, so we're hoping those guys can go out on top."
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Tickets are available for free online, with live streaming available on Canada West TV.
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Game highlights:
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