VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (7-3) earned their sixth straight victory with an efficient 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-13) win over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack (1-7) at War Memorial Gym. UBC’s .600 hitting percentage and zero attack errors in the third set was a fitting end to a weekend series that showcased attacking prowess in the Canada West.
Matt Neaves led the T-Birds with a match-high 10 kills, while Coltyn Liu added eight kills with three service aces. Setter Ben Hooker had a team-high four block assists to go along with six digs and two kills, while captain Jordan Deshane contributed four kills with an assist and two block assists in the victory.
Joshua Mullaney put up a team-high seven kills for TRU, Charlie Bringloe totaled six kills, and Nimo Benne had five digs with three kills and a block assist.
“I thought we did a good job identifying how they adjusted from game one to game two,” said UBC head coach Michael Hawkins. “I think it shows in the stats…we were more intelligent in our attacking during that last set. I thought we identified their tendencies from yesterday and did a better job of lining them up and being strong with our press.”
The ‘Birds took a narrow 16-14 lead into the first technical timeout before Mullaney kept the WolfPack within two at 19-17 with a kill down the line. TRU drew even at 20-20 with a crafty tip by Kyle Behiels but UBC pulled away and earned their first set point at 24-20 on a monstrous solo block by Nick Mickelberry. Liu closed out the first set for the ‘Birds on a sneaky tip to win it 25-22.
Hooker put the ‘Birds up two in the second set with a block at 11-9, and Liu’s second ace of the match took the T-Birds into the technical timeout up 16-12. Deshane crushed a pair of TRU over-bumps for back-to-back kills and a 19-15 advantage, before Mickelberry lifted the ‘Birds to a set point at 24-18. The home team captured the set on a Behiels service error at 25-20.
UBC led the third set 7-3 after a Gerard Murray kill as the WolfPack struggled to establish their offence. The T-Bird duo of Neaves and Murray came up with a big block for a 16-8 cushion before Bringloe crushed a huge back row kill for TRU. UBC continued to attack with ease and cruised to a 25-13 set victory on a WolfPack attack error.
“We’ve been home for about a month now so it’ll be a little weird playing away from home,” said Hawkins after UBC’s lengthy home schedule drew to a close Saturday night. “There’s a certain comfort level playing in front of your family and friends and we definitely made use of that.”
Next up for the Thunderbirds is a road trip to Alberta for their final series of the calendar year against the Golden Bears next weekend, while the WolfPack head to Saskatchewan for a series with the Huskies.
[SOURCE: UBC]