Season opener setback for UBC as ‘Birds fall in five sets to Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Wesmen battled back from a four-point fifth-set deficit and rallied to beat the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday afternoon at the Duckworth Centre in their 2024-25 Canada West season opening match.

The Wesmen trailed 12-8 in the fifth but won seven of the next eight points to post a 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 15-13) win.

Isaiah Olfert had 15 kills to lead the Wesmen, who had a chance to close it out in four but couldn’t hold on to a four-point lead as the T-Birds wiped out a 16-12 deficit to eventually tie the set 20-20.

The Wesmen went ahead again 22-20 before UBC won five of the next six to force a fifth and deciding frame.

Dawson Pratt had a match-high 19 kills for the T-Birds, and Reeve Gingera added 15.

Logan Greves and Mason Greves had 11 and 10 digs, respectively, for UBC while the latter also added five total blocks.

Luke Lodewyks had seven kills and 12 digs for the Wesmen, who also got 10 digs from libero Thomas Kiesman.

The T-Birds will have quick shot at redemption and the weekend split with Saturday’s rematch set to get underway at 12:45 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed live on Canada West TV.