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

SAKATOON – The defending U SPORTS national champion UBC Thunderbirds soared to a dominant 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-12) victory to complete a weekend series sweep over the Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the ‘Birds improve to 20-2 and set themselves up in great position to clinch a home court advantage in the Canada West playoffs, while the Huskies drop to 8-14.
 
Kylee Glanville led the attack for UBC, earning eight kills with a .700 hitting percentage. Erika Vermette added seven kills and six digs, while Trinity Solecki had four service aces. On the other side of the court, Devyn Ethier and Olivia Mattern earned five digs and two kills each for the Huskies.

 
The T-Birds rolled to an early 10-4 lead in the opening set with kills from Lucy Borowski and Vermette. A massive Ethier block brought the Huskies back within two points of the visitors before Keely Anderson served an ace to make it 15-14 UBC. Soon after, the T-Birds pulled away, reaching set point off a Solecki ace. Glanville took the set home 25-17 off a Mackenzie Campbell set.
 
Issy Robertshaw opened the second set with consistency from the service line, serving for six straight UBC points. A final push from the home team brought the previously double-digit lead down to 21-15 and pressured a UBC timeout, but the ‘Birds emerged from the break strong and easily took the set at 25-16 with an Elizabeth Lee kill.

 
The third set saw much of the same, with UBC taking a 15-6 lead. The Huskies showed their resilience with kills from Rosetta Cyr and Julia Howell Bourner, but the final set ended 25-12 with a Glanville kill for a second straight sets victory in Saskatoon.
 
The Thunderbirds return to Vancouver next week for their final home games of the regular season, hosting the Brandon Bobcats. Meanwhile, the Huskies head to Manitoba to play the second-place Bisons.