T-Birds close out regular season in top spot after weekend sweep of Bobcats

The UBC Thunderbirds capped off the regular season at the top of the Canada West standings for the first time since 2014, clinching home-court advantage throughout the playoffs after defeating the Brandon Bobcats in straight sets 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-18) to earn the weekend series sweep Saturday night at War Memorial Gym.
 
Third-year, outside hitter Lucy Borowski was dangerous in delivering 10 kills and three aces. Not far behind were Trinity Solecki and Claire Cossarini, both tallying eight kills, with the captain, Cossarini, also adding two aces. Akash Grewal totalled six kills and four aces.
 
The match marked the last regular season game for seven graduating T-Birds. Three were honoured at centre court in the series opener on Friday night, while Saturday saw Kacey Jost, Danielle Price, Victoria D’Acre and Cossarini’s turn to be recognized for their contribution toward forming the number one nationally ranked team looking to repeat last year’s U SPORTS championship victory.
 

WVB | Congratulations ???? to 4 of our 7 graduating seniors Danielle Price, Victoria D’Acre, Kacey Jost and Claire Cossarini following their final regular season game at War Memorial Gym!

Thanks for your dedication & impact. Once a T-Bird, always a T-Bird! ????@ubcwvb1 pic.twitter.com/wvbRkcSB4d

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 18, 2024

“It’s a pleasure to reflect on how they come in as 18-year-olds and leave much more mature individuals, both as players and as people,” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer following an emotional graduating seniors ceremony following the game. “This group has had to navigate their university careers during COVID and a number of them have had really tough injury roads as well. You just realize it takes a lot to be competing at this level and to be a student-athlete, and so I’m just really grateful to be able to work with such high-quality individuals.”
 
The Bobcats Nerissa Dyer and Laura Ramsey both earned a healthy six kills, with Ramsey adding 2 aces. Teammate Carly Thomson managed four kills and three digs.

 
Both teams traded points early in the opening night set to knot the game 8-8, with the Bobcats effectively absorbing blistering hits from Borowski and Emma Doyon at the net. After a Bobcats timeout and the T-Birds holding a 13-9 lead, Doyon started to lead momentum for the home team with three quick kills, hammering the opponent’s side of the court. A Kylie Glanville diving save ended in a Borowski rocket to the Bobcat’s floor. A subsequent Glanville kill forced the away team into another timeout with the board showing a ‘Birds lead, 23-17. The pause proved ineffective as UBC cruised into a 25-17 set-win.
 

WVB | @ubcwvb1‘s Trinity Solecki with the winning kill, the T-Birds win 25-15 in the second set! #GoBirdsGo

: https://t.co/TdjaH9qtA1 pic.twitter.com/ChRjT5X0lE

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 18, 2024

A similar story in the second set, with the Birds leading the score but unable to create a comfortable separation early in the game. The game stood at 10-8 after the Bobcats’ fourth-year outside hitter, Camryn Hildebrand, rattled a shot onto UBC’s side of the court. As the set progressed, similar to the first frame, UBC pulled ahead 19-11, but this time with four Grewal aces and a Borowski kill streak, who topped the leaderboard at 10 kills by the end of the set. Despite a handful of kills by the Bobcats’ Ramsey, the frame slipped out of reach for the Bobcats with the ‘Birds looking dangerous, cruising to a 25-15 win.

 
Neither team could create separation early in the third and final set despite an impressive showing by the UBC graduating captain, Cossarini, who racked up a series of kills early on. After three straight T-Birds points and a powerful block from Issy Robertshaw and Doyon, the Bobcats called a mid-frame timeout with a 14-10 ‘Birds advantage. After the break, UBC continued to be on top 18-15, but with some resistance from the Bobcats second-year middle, Nerissa Dyer, who responded with several kills in the set, totaling six in the match. After a final Brandon timeout and with the frame 22-16, the T-Birds continued to battle until a powerful UBC block party gave the ‘Birds the win 25-18.
 

WVB | @ubcwvb1 swept Brandon 3-0 on Saturday night to finish the regular season atop the @CanadaWest standings with a 22-2 record.

Claire Cossarini delivered 8 kills & 2 aces in the win & is one of 7 graduating ?? seniors who enjoyed being honoured this weekend! ?? ??

: pic.twitter.com/MWIaY16jOt

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 18, 2024

The defending national champion T-Birds are now set to host their Canada West best-of-three quarter-finals series next weekend when they host the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack beginning Friday, February 23 at War Memorial Gym. Game time is still to be determined.