‘Birds beat Heat on Seniors Night

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (8-5) took down the UBCO Heat (6-5) 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-23) and honoured graduating seniors Jess Goodridge and Laura MacTaggart on an evening presented in partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band.

Trinity Solecki led the ‘Birds with 13 kills, Elise Petit had nine kills and two blocks, Laura MacTaggart contributed four crucial kills, and Jess Goodridge tallied nine digs with two assists in the victory.

“We need to take advantage of each competitive opportunity,” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer after the T-Birds’ third consecutive victory with the playoffs on the horizon. “We need to continue to grow as a group and know we can survive through the ups and downs. We’re making strides, and it’s exciting to think where we can be. You still see execution errors and consistency issues on both sides, but we’re managing our way through that. We had lots of people contribute at different times today and hopefully that’s our signature strength.”

Jade Bussard had a team-high 16 kills for UBCO with nine digs and five blocks, while Sydney Grills added 14 kills and 10 digs.

After an evenly matched start to the first set, Brynn Pasin broke a 6-6 tie with a kill and lifted the ‘Birds to a three-point lead with an ace at 11-8. Cara Kovacs carried UBC into the break with a kill at 16-12, but the visitors battled back out of the technical timeout – and went on a 7-1 run to take a 19-17 lead. Pasin brought the ‘Birds back within one on a kill, and Erika Vermette tied it up with an ace at 19-19. The two teams traded points to a 22-22 tie, but a UBC error gave the Heat a slim edge and Sydney Grills dropped an ace for a set point that the visitors converted to take the set 25-23.

The T-Birds came out firing in the second set, as a Pasin kill made it 10-5 and the third-year Delta product extended the lead to six with an ace at 14-8. Pasin continued a strong serving run through to a 17-8 advantage and the ‘Birds forced a UBCO timeout after an Emma Doyon kill at 18-9. Claire Cossarini made it an 11-point lead on a kill at 23-12, and Petit smacked a left side kill for a UBC set point before closing it out with another kill at 25-14.

?? WVB | T-Birds take the 3rd set 25-19 & now lead @UBCOHeat 2-1!#GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/iegGMwhb1j

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 19, 2022

Jade Bussard brought the Heat within two early in the third set, and Madelyn Hettinga kept the visitors within four with a kill at 14-10 T-Birds. Solecki served up an ace out of the technical timeout and setter Kayla Oxland dropped a tip for an 18-13 advantage. Graduating senior Laura MacTaggart entered the game and promptly cranked a kill for a 20-14 lead before throwing down another kill at 23-15 and at 24-17. UBCO extended the set with kills from Bussard and Amaya Perry, but MacTaggart closed it out with yet another kill – this time down the line – at 25-19.

?? WVB | Congratulations ???? to our graduating seniors Laura McTaggart & Jess Goodridge following a 3-1 victory over @UBCOHeat on Seniors Night!

Thank you for your dedication & impact. Once a T-Bird, always a T-Bird! pic.twitter.com/IcQXylt2p3

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 19, 2022

“Our whole team was so excited for her,” said Reimer after MacTaggart’s impactful performance on a night that celebrated her illustrious career inside War Memorial Gym. “For her to come in, despite struggling with a lot of things – including a concussion – that was just awesome. She didn’t just do a good job…she did a great job tonight.”

The Heat responded with a strong start to the fourth set and led 16-14 at the technical timeout on a Sydney Grills kill. Up 19-17, UBCO was called for a ball-handling violation and Pasin earned a kill to knot it up at 19-19. Doyon came up with a kill for a one-point edge and Petit’s ninth kill of the match put the T-Birds up 22-20. Kendall Stephan evened the score at 22-22, but Doyon replied with a block and an ace for a match point at 24-22 that the ‘Birds captured on a UBCO serving error at 25-23.

The two teams will square off on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (PT) inside War Memorial Gym with tickets available for free online.