EDMONTON – The UBC Thunderbirds replicated their tremendous Friday night with another straight sets victory Saturday against the host Alberta Pandas (25-18, 25-21, 25-22) at Edmonton’s Saville Centre to stake out sole possession of first place in the Canada West.
Third-year Lucy Borowoski led all players with 11 kills along with 12 digs while Akash Grewal added another 10 kills and seven digs as the T-Birds extended their winning streak to six matches.
It was another great performance from the blue and gold (14-1), who had no problem heating up in the main gym as the polar vortex continues to drop Alberta temperatures into the -40s.
The Pandas were led by rookie Abby Guezen who also had 11 kills, and was a bright spot for an Alberta team that is now in third place in the conference.
The first set saw a stout UBC defence that held the hosts to a -.040 hitting percentage, and recorded three total blocks. Grewal led all hitters with four kills in the frame.
UBC still impressed in the second, winning 25-21 in a set where Guezen and Borowoski went head-to-head and finished tied with five kills apiece.
The final frame was led by the Pandas and captain Lauryn Tremblay for the majority of play, but strong serving from Grewal ignited a T-Bird comeback that would come to fruition with a 25-22 win.
Now with just eight matches left in the regular season, the T-Birds are finally back home for the first time in 2024 next Friday and Saturday, January 19 and 20 to host the second place Manitoba Bisons in a rematch of last year’s national championship quarter-final. Tickets for both nights are on sale now.