Stu Walters/UBC Thunderbirds
VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds outlasted the MacEwan Griffins 3-2 in a five-set battle at the War Memorial Gym on Saturday night as the hosts completed the sweep of the two-game weekend series. The 'Birds improving to 8-2 on the season while the Griffins see their record drop to 0-10
The Griffins got out to great first set start, jumping out to leads of 6-1, and 12-4, that forced Thunderbirds head coach Doug Reimer to call separate timeouts at both score lines. The visitors would continue executing however in extending their lead to 16-8, before the hosts would pull within six points at 20-14. The Griffins would then ensure the T-Birds didn't get much closer in pulling away for a 25-19, first set victory. Leading the way for the Griffins in the opening set was Cassidy Kinsella with six kills, Lauren Holmes with three service aces and McKenna Stevenson with six digs. Standing out for the 'Birds in the first was Kiera Van Ryk with four digs and service aces.
UBC was much sharper in the second set managing leads of 14-9, and 21-12 following an Alessandra Gentile service ace. Gentile would also add 12 of her game high 47 assists in the frame helping the 'Birds take the set 25-19 on a decisive Gabrielle Attieh kill, one of her three kills' in the second frame and 12 total in the match.
To the Griffins credit, they continued to make life difficult for the T-Birds in a closely fought third set. MacEwan led 18-16 before three Attieh aces - part of a 5-0 UBC run - pushed the hosts ahead 21-18.
The two teams traded a point each, before MacEwan won the last six points to claim a 25-22 decision. The surge included three UBC attack errors, a pair of kills from Kate Rozendaal, and one from Stevenson.
The fourth set saw the T-Birds eventually decide to take control jumping out to leads of 10-2, and 16-5, en route to a 25-15 decision. By that point, the 'Birds were on a roll and finished off the Griffins by taking the fifth set 15-7.
Once again, Van Ryk led the way for UBC finishing with 18 kills, three aces and 22 digs. The first-year Kinesiology student thought the game was a tug of war.
"It was a tight match, MacEwan came out really hard they played really well and they really challenged us on their blocking and their defence so give credit to them. It surprised us a bit but we came out with the win."
T-Birds head coach Doug Reimer thought his squad's start left a little to be desired.
"The first set we were really flat and I got to give MacEwan credit, in the first set they ended up with 24 digs but I was proud of how our team battled back especially because a few of the girls had a long week, so I was pleased with our battle level."
Reimer continued, "I was really pleased with our resiliency and more important than our second set bounce back was how we played sets four and five, especially after giving away the third set."
Cassidy Kinsella finished the night with a team-high 19 kills and nine digs while teammate Karly Edgar chipped in with a team-high 26 digs for the Griffins. For the 'Birds, Samantha Patko amassed a team-high 26 digs.
Next week, the Griffins host the Trinity Western Spartans while the Thunderbirds return to the road in search of a third-straight win, when they meet the Mount Royal Cougars at Kenyon Court in Calgary.
PHOTO: Rich Lam, UBC Thunderbirds