T-Birds sweep Bisons in battle of Canada West powers

VANCOUVER – The U SPORTS No.1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds remain the best in the west after defeating the No.4 team in the Nation, University of Manitoba Bisons in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) at War Memorial Gym Friday night to open a weekend series. The T-Birds earned a seventh-straight victory, improving to 16-1 on the Canada West campaign while the Bisons fell to 14-3.

Third-year standout UBC outside hitter, Akash Grewal, tied a career-high with eight service aces, to go along with an impressive 12 kills and seven digs, while teammate Claire Cossarini racked up 10 kills and two aces. Not far behind was Lucy Borowski, who added nine kills.

“Just two really good teams going after it,” said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “By and large, very disciplined play on both sides … that’s high-level university volleyball if you want to watch some good play.”

Manitoba’s second-year star, Raya Surinx, racked up a game-high 18 kills with teammate, Ella Gray, contributing eight kills, two aces and seven digs. Eva Catojo added seven kills.

Neither team could create separation early in the first set, but a jolt of momentum from Grewal scrambling to reach a dig on her knees followed by a booming kill gave the T-Birds a 7-4 lead. Still, a series of frantic Manitoba rallies and a pair of blistering kills from the third-year Bison, Gray, swung the momentum and pushed Manitoba ahead and UBC into a timeout. After the break, the ‘Birds traded points with the Bisons for several series,’ with Grewal proving crucial, collecting six kills and an ace on the set and knotting the score at 17-17 late in the frame. Two more rocket serves from Grewal broke the tie and put the ‘Birds in the lead 19-17 forcing Manitoba to regroup with a timeout. After the stoppage, both teams battled until yet another high-flying laser from Grewal on the left side narrowly handed UBC the frame at 25-23.
 

?? WVB | @ubcwvb’s Akash Grewal completes three straight aces in the second set! The T-Birds win the second set 25-22 against the Bisons. #GoBirdsGo

??: https://t.co/TdjaH9qtA1 pic.twitter.com/wqVMjgJico

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) January 20, 2024

The Bisons rallied quickly from the first-set loss, jumping out to a 6-2 advantage and convincing the ‘Birds to call a timeout. After the pause, the Bison’s second-year star on the left, Surinx, who has the league’s most kills and kills per set, started to cause trouble with a handful of blistering returns – eventually totalling seven kills in the set – but the T-Birds blockers managed to handle the onslaught and then some, picking away at their point deficit and working a mid-frame 12-12 tie. Cossarini started to dominate the net and earned a spot on the point leaderboard, notching six kills in the frame. Still, the deadlocked game continued late into the set, culminating with an Issy Robertshaw service ace for the ‘Birds, making the score 21-21. Cossarini then delivered another kill followed by an impressive three straight service aces for the scorching Grewal who solidified the set win for UBC.

The T-Birds dominated the net early in the third frame with Emma Doyon, Erika Vermette and Robertshaw seemingly unbeatable in the air, withstanding powerful smashes from the Bison’s Surinx and Gray. The stout defence helped the ‘Birds to a 10-6 lead and a Manitoba timeout. Following the timeout, Surinx narrowed the Bison’s point deficit, keeping the team alive with rocket right-arm smashes and earning 18 kills by the end of the game. With the match at 22-20 for the blue and white, Grewal again earned back-to-back aces to make it 24-20. Two UBC errors saw their lead wither to 24-22, but the home side responded on the next possession thanks to a final rocket at the net from Vermette to give the ‘Birds the victory.
 

?? WVB | THAT’S GAME! @ubcwvb1 ends the night with a 25-22 victory against @umbisons in the third set, winning with three straight sets!

The T-Birds will be back for the second game of the back-to-back weekend series against the Bisons at War Memorial Gym tomorrow night.… pic.twitter.com/AZwuFHQm00

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) January 20, 2024

The Thunderbirds and Bisons are slated to return to War Memorial Gym on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. to complete the weekend series.