Golden Bears punch ticket to national final with 3-0 win over UBC

KINGSTON, ON – The Golden Bears are off to their second national final in three seasons, thanks to a 3-0 win over the UBC Thunderbirds in the U SPORTS Semifinal on Friday night.

The victory for Alberta over UBC is their second playoff win over the Thunderbirds in two weeks, after the Bears swept UBC in the Canada West Semifinal at Saville Centre in Edmonton. The Bears will now meet the Sherbrooke Vert et Or in the national final on Sunday night, in what will be a rematch of the 2023 national semifinal, which was won by Sherbrooke. 

Alberta will be aiming for a record-tying 10th Tantramar Trophy, while Sherbrooke will be looking for their first since 1975. UBC will take on the host Queen’s Gaels in the bronze medal match. 

“I think our guys did a good job of not taking that team for granted; they played with a chip on their shoulder,” said Bears head coach Brock Davidiuk. “UBC is the only team to sweep us this year, and we have some competitors on our team who came out with that chip tonight.” 

Isaac Heslinga paced the Alberta attack with 20 kills on 44 swings, committing just one attack error. Jacob Sargent — named the player of the match — added 10 kills and 11 digs, with Liam Espedido adding 11 kills. Sam Drybrough finished with a match-high 36 assists, leading an Alberta offence that finished with a staggering .350 attack percentage. 

“The last time we were in this game Sam was playing libero. And he has come a very long way in the way he is playing, and the way he thinks the game,” said Davidiuk of Drybrough. “He was setting a very good game, and the stats reflect that with a .350 attack percentage. And he wouldn’t be able to do that if Ronan Huth and Luke Weddell weren’t so supportive behind him.” 

Reeve Gingera led UBC with 15 kills on 37 attempts, with Gavin Moes adding 13 on 40. UBC finished with nine fewer kills (46-37), adding 15 attack errors as they struggled to keep pace with the Bears offence. 

Alberta was completely unstoppable in the first two sets, finishing with a .431 attack percentage. Heslinga led the way with six kills in the first, and nine in the second, as Alberta jumped ahead with a 2-0 lead. 

Trailing 20-19 in the third set, Alberta won six of the next nine points, with kills by Espedido and Grayden Wiebe securing a 25-23 third set win, and a 3-0 match win. 

The U SPORTS Final is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on Sunday night.