EDMONTON – In yet another exciting installment in the UBC Thunderbird vs Trinity Western Spartans rivalry, this time it was the Spartans who came out on top 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 15-13) in an absolute classic of a Canada West Semifinal Friday night.
The crowd in Edmonton saw phenomenal individual efforts from Canada West First Team All-Stars Maryn Boldon (TWU) and
Lucy Borowski (UBC), who finished with 19 and 23 kills respectively, each leading their team by at least seven. Boldon won the match with a service ace in the fifth set, while leading only 14-13.
"We know UBC Thunderbirds are such an amazing all-around team so we just had to maintain a steady attitude and rely on our game to pull us through. It was a great match – it could have gone either way – so kudos to both teams," she stated after the match.
The margins were thin, but each team performed to their strengths in the match. UBC out-hit the Spartans .247 to .184, but TWU was able to out-ace the 'Birds 10 to six. Borowski and Boldon certainly carried the fourth and largely fifth sets of the match, but UBC's
Kylee Glanville and
Elizabeth Lee each finished with over 10 kills, and Isabella Stothart hit .500 with nine kills and two blocks for the Spartans.
It was an incredibly close opening set, with the teams exchanging mini-runs in a set that featured 11 ties and seven lead changes. That was, until Lee and Glanville led the Thunderbirds on a 6-0 run mid-set that captured the momentum in a 25-20 win. Lee, Glanville and Borowski combined for 11 kills in the frame for UBC, while Boldon paced the Spartans with four.
The margins were tight again in the second set, which featured another 12 ties and four lead changes. UBC held the momentum until a 5-2 TWU run mid-set that changed the Spartans' fortunes, as they would hold on for a 25-22 set win. Boldon was strong again in the frame, recording a team-high three kills.
The Spartans looked to have figured their attack out in the early third, jumping out to a 10-4 lead, but UBC hit back with an 8-2 run immediately after to get back in the all-important middle frame.
However, the Spartans would take a five-point lead shortly after and ride it the whole way out to take a commanding 2-1 match lead. Boldon was massive in the frame, hitting a set-high seven kills, pacing a Spartans attack that hit .324 in the set.
This matchup was never going to let the fourth set be the decisive frame, as UBC took command early for the largest set win of the match at 25-17. The offence, led by Borowski with a frame-high six kills, hit .324 as a team to force a fifth set with a berth in the Canada West Final on the line.
The teams traded mini runs to open the fifth, and inched forward to an 8-7 Thunderbirds lead at the halfway mark. The Spartans would threaten early after that, but a strong 3-0 run would put the 'Birds up 12-10. However, after knotting the game at 13-13, the Spartans would take both of the next two points, including the decisive ace from Boldon to end the night.
With the win, TWU will face the No. 1 seed Alberta Pandas for conference gold. The Thunderbirds move to the bronze medal match against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack at 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday, but with Trinity Western hosting the upcoming U SPORTS Women's Volleyball Championship, they are already assured a place to compete for the national title.
