T-Birds edged by Bobcats in five set marathon

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds fell to the Brandon Bobcats in five sets (25-20, 25-20, 27-29, 17-25, 15-4) in the first game of their final home series of the regular season Friday night at War Memorial Gym. With Friday’s loss, the ‘Birds fall to 15-8 but remain in contention for home court advantage in the Canada West playoffs with 47 points while the Bobcats improve to 16-7.

“I always say play to your personality,” said UBC head coach Mike Hawkins. “I think we sort of veered from that in the first two sets, and then in the next two, we stuck to it plain and simple. In the fifth set, after they scored a few points early, it kind of felt like that evaporated a little bit which is why the score ended up being the way it was.”

Second-year outside hitter Gavin Moes led the ‘Birds with 22 kills and two blocks. Nick Taub and Kieran Robinson-Dunning added eight and seven kills, respectively. Jens Watt, Liam Pauls, and Philipp Lauter all reached double digits in kills for the visiting Bobcats.

Neither team was able to create a gap early in the opening set. Two UBC attacking errors gave the Bobcats a slim lead before a Paycen Warkentin kill forced UBC into a timeout at 8-5. Brandon held the pressure, answering every point earned by the ‘Birds with a tally of their own. Eventually, the T-Birds were able to string together a series of points to claw their way back within two at 13-11 Brandon. Moes had eight kills in the set, but the offensive effort was not enough. The Bobcats clinched the set off a UBC service error at 25-20.

The ‘Birds flew to a 5-1 lead in the second set with a kill from Conaire Taub and attacking errors by the visitors. The Bobcats quickly equalized at 6-6 and continued matching the ‘Birds until pulling ahead at 13-10 with a Watt left side hit. A massive Lauter kill brought the Bobcats to the 20-point mark, but the ‘Birds threatened the lead with kills by brothers Conaire and Nick Taub to pull within three. But Brandon was able to hold off the home team, ending the set at 25-20 off a Warkentin kill.

A huge Jon Lockie kill early in the third gave UBC a boost of energy. Nick Taub added a tip and block for an 8-5 edge. Just when it seemed like the Bobcats were catching up, the ‘Birds won a crucial rally and followed with a monster block to stay ahead 11-7. Not willing to give up easily, Brandon tied the game at 14-14 and then took their first lead of the set at 18-17 off a Pauls block. The visitors continued to lead the set until the ‘Birds tied it at 23-all off a deflection. UBC defended a Brandon match point before claiming the set at 29-27.

UBC brought the momentum into the fourth set with service aces from Lockie, James Vincett, and Mason Greeves for a 14-9 lead. A three-point run culminated in a Nick Taub kill to make it 17-10 for UBC. Brandon battled back, closing the gap to 17-13, but the home side held the pressure. A Nick Taub ace set the ‘Birds up to win the set before a Moes kill took it at 25-17, forcing a fifth frame.

The Bobcats got off to a good start in the final set, leading 8-2 at the technical switch. After conceding only two more points, Brandon ended the match with a 15-4 final set victory.

“We’ve got one more opportunity to get a win to host a playoff weekend, and I think that’s really important for this younger group,” added Hawkins. “It’s not an ‘I have to,’ it’s an ‘I get to.'”

The two teams battle for the final game of the regular season Saturday with first serve scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at War Memorial Gym. Tickets are available now and the match will be streamed live on Canada West TV.