SASKATOON – The T-Birds got it done on both offence and defence in their first action of the new year, taking down the Huskies in four sets (25-11, 16-25, 29-27, 25-17).
Kylee Glanville had a fantastic performance with 15 kills, 11 digs and a career-high six blocks.
Lucy Borowski tallied 14 kills, six digs and three blocks, while
Issy Robertshaw dished out 33 assists to go with 15 digs and three blocks.
The T-Birds recorded an astounding 19 blocks as a team, their most in a single match since they hit the same number in a five-set win over Alberta in February of 2017.
In part fueled by four of those blocks, the Thunderbirds were the dominant force for the first set, jumping out to an early lead and keeping their foot on the gas pedal.
By the time Borowski landed her second ace of the frame the score had ballooned to 17-3 in favour of the visitors, and they were able to cruise from there in a near-flawless set where they held the Huskies to a -.074 hitting percentage.
The second had quite a different feel, as the home team responded with 15 kills in the set and a comfortable win of their own. Play was even up until the score reached 9-9, at which point the Huskies reeled off a 7-1 run to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Undeterred, the T-Birds hit right back in a dramatic third that went past the 25-point barrier. With successive ties at 24, 25, 26 and 27 points apiece, it was a pair of kills from Robertshaw and
Ella Ungemach that provided the finishing blow that the blue and gold needed to take a 2-1 set lead.
The fourth was a little more comfortable, with the T-Birds never trailing at any point in what turned out to be the final frame.
A series of Huskies attack errors gave UBC the momentum they needed, and by the time Robertshaw and
Jocelyn Lenarcic combined on a block it was 22-14. Borowski ended the night with her 14th kill, as the Thunderbirds started off 2026 on the right foot.
These two teams will be right back at it tomorrow, with the rematch beginning at 1:00 p.m. (PT) in Saskatoon.
