SASKATOON – The UBC Thunderbirds outlasted the Saskatchewan Huskies 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25) in a four set nail-biter on Saturday night to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The win puts both UBC and the Huskies at 15-7 and extends the tightly contested race for home court advantage in the playoffs.
Gavin Moes and Reeve Gingera were forces to be reckoned with, earning 16 kills and four aces each for the ‘Birds. Gingera, Mason Greves, and Logan Greves all reached double digits in digs.
Second-year outside hitter Isaiah Mamer led the home side with a match-high 18 kills. Teammate Emmett Graham added 12 kills and 11 digs.
The first set found the T-Birds and Huskies tied at 13-all before a five-point run culminating in a Gingera-Kieran Robinson-Dunning double block lifted UBC up 18-13. The ‘Birds managed to keep the lead, and Mason Greves took the opening set from the service line at 25-18 with an ace.
UBC built an early lead in the second set, but the Huskies equalized at 13-13. The home team continued to match the ‘Birds, trading points all the way to 23-23 until a Moes kill and a Mason Greves–Jon Lockie double block gave UBC the set at 25-23.
The third set saw more of the same back-and-forth action. The Huskies briefly pulled ahead with a couple of strong kills and a series of unforced UBC errors. Despite a strong recovery from UBC, Joshua Thorson ended the frame at 25-23 for the Huskies to force a fourth set.
A Saskatchewan attacking error in the fourth set resulted in another tie at 23-23. Moes earned UBC a set point, but the home team capitalized on two T-Birds errors to equalize. After another unsuccessful set point, Gingera smashed the ball crosscourt for a perfectly placed kill and 26-25 UBC advantage. A Huskies error ended the final set at 27-25 for a 3-1 T-Birds victory and weekend series split.
The Thunderbirds square off against the Brandon Bobcats next week in their last home weekend of the Canada West regular season, while the Huskies are off to Manitoba to play the Bisons.
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