VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds downed the Calgary Dinos 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21) in the first of two weekend contests at War Memorial Gym on Friday night, improving to (4-3) on the young season.
The T-Birds jumped out to an early first set 9-5 lead which forced Dinos head coach Natalie Gurnsey to call their first timeout. The visitors would respond with a 5-1 run to tie the game 10-10 and sparking UBC head coach Doug Reimer to also call a timeout for his squad to regroup.
The break was beneficial for the ‘Birds who scored six of the next seven points culminating with one of Gabrielle Attieh’s set-high seven kills and a 16-11 advantage into the technical timeout. UBC stay in front the rest of the way en route to a 25-19 first set win with help from Kayla Oxland’s four service aces and nine assists while the hard-hitting Trinity Solecki led the way for the Dinos with three kills.
The second frame proved to be another entertaining battle that saw UBC take a 16-12 lead into the technical timeout. Once again, it was Attieh setting the tone for the T-Birds with six kills, one of which led to 22-18 lead and the first of two Calgary timeouts called in a short time frame. Anna Price (four) and Brynn Pasin (three) added to the UBC offence, including two straight kills from Price to secure the 25-20 second set victory. Leading the way for the Dinos was Beth Vinnell counting six kills in the period while the visitors also served up their first three service aces of the match.
The third set was a close back and forth affair that featured three lead changes while the score was also tied on six occasions. In the end in appropriate fashion it was Attieh that would register the final point with an emphatic kill to give UBC the 25-21 set win and 3-0 match victory. Attieh finished with a game-high 19 kills while Jayde Robertsen added eight and Price totaled seven. Vinnell and Solecki led Calgary with nine kills apiece.
“I thought we had some good offensive performances,” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “The obvious one being Gabrielle Attieh with 19 kills but it was also good to get a healthy Jayde Robertsen back who scored a lot of efficient points including three service aces. At times, it wasn’t flowing really well but we made enough good plays but we were steady enough serving and offensively when we needed to be. We’re still very much a work in progress but I’m pleased with the effort tonight.”
With the setback, the Dinos remain in search of their first win on the campaign and they’ll look to claim that when the teams meet again Saturday evening at 5 p.m. PT.
[SOURCE: UBC]