VANCOUVER- After dropping a dramatic first frame the UBC Thunderbirds battled back to win three straight sets and defeat the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack 3-1 (29-31, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20) Friday afternoon at War Memorial Gym.
Matt Neaves recorded a game high 15 kills and four service aces to lead the T-Birds while Colton Liu added 11 kills and two service aces for the hosts who now won five straight games to improve to 6-4 on the season. Nimo Benne registered a team high 13 kills while Charlie Bringloe added another 10 kills for TRU who fall to 1-6 on the campaign.
“I thought we did a good job coming out with energy and I thought TRU was a little flat,” said UBC head coach Mike Hawkins but it doesn’t take a whole lot for them to get going and once they do they like to play with emotion and I thought they did a great job coming back in that first set. I then challenged our guys, demanded more in terms of how we’re playing as a team, that’s been a big emphasis the last couple of weeks, how we’re playing as a team and being a collective rather than a group of individuals that are obviously talented. Once we woke up a bit in that sense, I thought then we could play our style, our game and that’s why we came away with three straight sets.”
The first set was an absolute roller coaster that saw the teams battle to an even 10-10 score line before UBC would go on a mini run leading to a 16-13 advantage at the technical timeout. The T-Birds appeared to be in control after a Nick Mickelberry tip gave the hosts a 24-20 set point lead but the Wolfpack scored the next four points to prolong the opening frame. Both teams would continue to trade points leading to a Neaves service ace and a 29-28 ‘Birds lead but TRU responded yet again with the next two points punctuated by a key Anton Napolitano block to give the visitors a 31-29 first set win. Neaves led UBC with seven kills followed by Dowhaniuk with four while for TRU it was Bringloe, Benne, Joshua Mullaney and Sam Taylor-Parks who all registered three kills each.
The second period was also very close and midway through it was a Michael Dowhaniuk service ace that helped UBC to a 16-15 advantage at the technical timeout. As the frame progressed it was a big kill from Liu giving the ‘Birds a 24-21 set point lead but once again TRU made life difficult thanks to back-to-back demonstrative kills from Kyle Behiels to pull within one at 24-23 and causing a T-Birds timeout. Out of the break it was the Wolfpack that served into the net giving the ‘Birds a 25-23 second set victory to tie the match 1-1.
With TRU enjoying a 12-10 lead in the third set it was UBC head coach Mike Hawkins taking a timeout for a chance to deliver a spirited message for his team to bear down the rest of the way. They responded by scoring the next three points but it was the Wolfpack that claimed the 16-14 lead at the technical timeout. The ‘Birds would battle back thanks to a Deshane tip, a Neaves Kill and a Ben Hooker ace for a 24-21 advantage before TRU scored two straight punctuated by a Benne block to pull within one at 24-23 and causing a UBC timeout. Out of the break it was Liu’s third kill of the set and eighth of the match giving UBC the 25-23 win and 2-1 advantage.
The fourth and final set was highlighted by a Deshane Kill to give UBC a 16-12 lead at the technical timeout followed by Neaves delivering the second of his four service aces to go up 19-15. Liu’s third kill of the frame led to match point before it was time for Neaves to leave a final imprint on the outing with a big block for the 25-20 win and 3-1 victory.
The teams meet again Saturday evening with a 6:30 p.m. PT start time at War Memorial Gym.
[SOURCE: UBC]