VANCOUVER – Elizabeth Lee was the difference maker off the bench helping to spark the UBC Thunderbirds to a straight-sets 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-14) victory over the University of Calgary Dinos women’s volleyball team in an emotional Friday evening match-up at War Memorial Gymnasium.
With the win the ‘Birds improved to 10-1 while the Dinos fell to 4-7 on the Canada West season.
Lee led UBC with nine kills, two service aces, and an impressive .643 hitting percentage. Lucy Borowski added nine kills and two service aces as well, while Issy Robertshaw had two aces, 29 assists, and a .947 serve percentage on 19 attempts.
Before the opening serve a moment of silence was observed to honour three Canada West student-athletes from the Thompson Rivers University men’s volleyball team who were involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident earlier this week.
The T-Birds started with an ace from Robertshaw, and her play from the service line set up the home squad with an early 4-0 lead, prompting an early timeout by the Dinos.
The Birds’ impressive serve play continued. The team had a 100 per cent success rate through the first set and finished the game with a .905 service percentage, committing seven errors and scoring 12 aces.
A Lee kill from the left side closed out the first frame, 25-9.
The duo of Emma Doyon and Borowski shut back-to-back attacks down to start the second set, asserting early strong play for UBC once again. The attacks from Claire Cossarini and Lee added to the momentum, as they were able to get kills from the outside in consecutive attacks, leading early 9-4.
The Dinos, however, were resilient. An ace from Kaylyn Tanton and a couple of errors committed by the T-Birds kept the visiting squad within two, 11-9, which prompted a timeout call from Reimer.
Despite some mistakes, the Thunderbirds remained consistent at the service line; as Kylee Glanville dialled up back-to-back aces, while Victoria D’Acre added to the tally. The Thunderbirds closed out the set 25-19, taking a 2-0 lead.
Led by Lee, the Thunderbirds came out hot to start the third. She kicked off the set with three kills and a block, as the ‘Birds opened up a convincing 12-5 advantage.
The Dinos kept fighting, but the mountain was too high to climb, as the Birds closed out the third set, 25-14.
The Thunderbirds will host the Dinos again on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the War Memorial Gym to close out the first half of the Canada West women’s volleyball season.