T-Birds upset No. 3 seed McMaster in U SPORTS Championship Quarter-Final

KINGSTON, ONT. – The No. 6 seed UBC Thunderbirds clawed back from a couple key deficits to upset the No. 3 seed McMaster Marauders 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19) to open quarter-final play at the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, Thursday afternoon at Queen’s University.

UBC fought back from being down 21-18 in the first set to win the opening frame and responded to a 15-25 loss in the second set to win two-straight games and secure the 3-1 victory. The T-Birds now advance to meet a familiar Canada West foe in the No. 2 ranked Alberta Golden Bears in a Friday semifinal that begins at 5:00 p.m. PT. on www.cbcsports.ca. 

The Thunderbirds recorded a .333 hitting percentage, while the Marauders were limited to .228. UBC also put up a strong defensive presence at the net with 11 blocks.
 

Mason Greves of @ubcmvb with the Fake-Out to take the third set 25-22 and a 2-1 lead.

Mason Greves de @ubcmvb avec le Fake-Out pour remporter le troisième set 25-22 et une avance de 2-1.

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— U SPORTS Volleyball (@USPORTS_VBall) March 14, 2024

Second Team All-Canadian Mason Greves led in UBC in assists with 35 while also adding four blocks and an ace. Mikasa player of the game James Vincett stepped up with seven kills to go along with 5 blocks and second-year outside hitter, Reeve Gingera added 17.5 points from 16 kills, 1 service ace and 1 assisted block.

For the Marauders, First Team All-Canadian Maxime Gratton led the offense. Gratton put up 22 points with 18 kills and 4 service aces. The outside hitter also had an impressive .630 hitting percentage, above his regular season record of .365.

The ‘Birds and Golden Bears have seen a lot of each other lately as the two combatants get right back at it on Friday evening for the second semifinal meeting between the two teams this month. In early March the T-Birds were swept on the road by Alberta in the Canada West semifinal, however just a month and half before that it was UBC who completed the weekend sweep in regular season conference play in Alberta in mid-January.

The Golden Bears advanced to the semifinal on the strength of a 3-1 win over No. 7 seed Laval in the early quarter-final. The Marauders head to the consolation semifinal against Laval on Saturday at 4pm.

MIKASA PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

UBC: James Vincett

McMaster: Maxime Gratton

STAT LEADERS

UBC

Kills: Reeve Gingera (16)

Points: Reeve Gingera (17.5)

Blocks: James Vincett (5)

Digs: Reeve Gingera (5)

Service aces: Reeve Gingera, Gavin Moes, Mason Greves, James Vincett, Dawson Pratt (1)

McMaster

Kills: Maxime Gratton (18)

Points: Maxime Gratton (22)

Blocks: Tyler Pavelic, Jared Kuiken (3)

Digs: Ben Kerkhoff (5)

Service aces: Maxime Gratton (4)