MVB: Huskies Split Weekend Series With T-Birds

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (8-6) came from behind to earn a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20) bounce-back victory over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (9-5) at War Memorial Gym for a crucial Canada West series split.
 
Rookie Reeve Gingera had another impressive showing in his second start with the blue and gold with 10 kills, four aces and four blocks, Gerard Murray led the ‘Birds with 11 kills and six blocks, and setter Mason Greves put up 39 assists and eight digs in the win. 
 
Levi Olson put up a team-high 16 kills for Saskatchewan, as Dylan Mortensen added 11 kills and seven digs in the four-set loss.
 
The Huskies took a 13-8 lead in the first with a Jake Rapin ace, but Conaire Taub ripped a kill off the block to tie it up at 19-19 in a tight opening frame. Olson cranked a kill for a 23-21 lead and Saskatchewan took the set, 25-21, on a UBC error. 
 
In an equally close second set, Dowhaniuk brought the ‘Birds within two at 20-18 before a Murray kill tightened it up to 21-20. Gingera dropped an ace to tie it on the next point and evened the score again at 22-22. The rookie then broke a 23-23 draw with a kill from the right side and the T-Birds captured the set, 25-23, on a Mortensen error.
 
UBC led early in the third, punctuated by a huge Murray kill from the middle and a Dowhaniuk back row attack for a 15-9 advantage. Conaire Taub lifted the T-Birds to a 23-18 lead and Gingera closed it out at 25-19.
 
Murray came up with a big block on Mortensen for an 18-14 fourth-set lead and UBC continued to click through to a 25-20 win on a Dowhaniuk dagger.
 
Saskatchewan will host the second-seeded Trinity Western Spartans (11-3) next Friday at 8:00 PM and Saturday at 5:00PM in Saskatoon. Tickets can be purchased at Huskietickets.com.