T-Birds down Cougars in straight sets to earn weekend series sweep

Vancouver – The defending 2023 U SPORTS national champion UBC Thunderbirds are off to a strong start to the Canada West season, downing the Mount Royal Cougars for the second night in a row in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-20) to wrap up the weekend series sweep at War Memorial Gym on Saturday.

Lucy Borowski led the attack for the T-Birds with nine kills and three digs while Akash Grewal was just behind with eight kills but an impressive three aces and six digs. Katrina Pantovic added seven kills, two aces and three digs while Claire Cossarini also had seven kills on the evening. Kacy Jost was a defensive standout at Libero with a game high 11 digs. On the other side of the court Bronwynn Davies-Neira led the Cougars lineup with eight kills and a block while the visiting libero, Sarah McKillican, led in receptions with 21, while adding a team high seven digs.
 

 WVB | @ubcwvb1 earns match point to sweep @cougars_wvb 3-0 & the weekend series at War Memorial Gym.

The defending U SPORTS national champion T-Birds are of to a 2-0 start to the young @CanadaWest season!#GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/js0ESpgGIi

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) October 22, 2023

“First match there’s always a few nerves, ” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “Mount Royal probably had more of that than we did last night, but they were a way better team tonight. That first set they battled really hard.”

The ‘Birds jumped out to an early  9-4 lead in the opening set with Cossarini earning three kills and a block but a UBC service error and a kill from the Cougar’s Sydney Scatcherd switched the momentum toward Mount Royal. The Cougars went on to record four straight points to close the gap, but UBC held strong and responded with a kill by Cossarini on a set point to take the set 25-22.

After the Cougar’s Jessica Osczeveski tied the game 2-2 in the second frame, the ‘Birds took control and didn’t look back with Grewal racking up five kills and two aces finishing the set handedly, helping the “Birds pull away for a 25-16 second set win.

The third set was much of the same with the Birds taking an early 6-1 lead. The Cougars showed moments of resistance in the last stretch of the frame with a strong blocking front but the final set ended with a Borowski kill and the 25-20 decision securing the second sweep of the weekend for the T-Birds.

“We’ve got things to work on like every other team,” added Reimer, “but we’re really happy with weekend number one.” 
 

WVB | @ubcwvb1 earns match point to sweep @cougars_wvb 3-0 & the weekend series at War Memorial Gym.

The defending U SPORTS national champion T-Birds are of to a 2-0 start to the young @CanadaWest season!#GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/js0ESpgGIi

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) October 22, 2023

The ‘Birds will hit the road next week looking to remain unbeaten when they visit the  University of Regina Cougars. Meanwhile MRU goes in search of their first win of the Canada West campaign, when they host the UBC Okanagan Heat next Friday.