T-Birds take down UBCO in four sets

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (8-5) defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat (6-5) 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15) in their penultimate home court appearance presented in partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band.

Michael Dowhaniuk had a team-high 15 kills and three aces for the T-Birds, Zarley Zalusky had 11 kills with four total blocks, Cole Brandsma tallied 10 kills, and Duncan Clark put up nine kills in the victory.

“We knew coming into things, with the guys we have injured and the quality of the opponent that we were playing, to get the result was going to require a really gritty effort,” said UBC head coach Mike Hawkins after an impressive performance without key starters Matt Neaves and Coltyn Liu. “We had a game plan to start Tyson Smith on the left side to have a ball control lineup out there, but kudos to the Heat. They came out and put the pressure on us. I thought Duncan Clark was the difference in the game. The way he came in – obviously he was extremely efficient – but the guy just brings a different type of joy and demeanour to the floor. It seemed like everybody else settled in when he entered the game.”

?? MVB | @ubcmvb start the weekend with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15) victory over @UBCOHeat at War Memorial Gym.

The same 2 teams play again tomorrow at 4:30pm! #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/6gDc2WcOyM

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 19, 2022

Maxwell Heppell led UBCO with 10 kills, Noah Carlson had eight kills, and Cameron Vanderveen added five kills with five digs and a block in the loss.

The Heat started strong in the first set, but the T-Birds battled back – as Zalusky unloaded on a kill to bring UBC within three at 12-9, and the ‘Birds drew within two after a thrilling defensive play from Smith led to a Heat error. UBCO widened their lead to five with a block by Zach van Geel and Caleb Funk at 19-14 and led 23-17 after back-to-back T-Bird errors. Zalusky responded with a big block, but a UBC service error lifted the Heat to a set point at 24-18. Dowhaniuk extended the set with a kill and Brandsma kept the ‘Birds alive at 24-20 UBCO. After a Heat timeout, Carlson closed out the set with a kill at 25-20.

Zach van Greel served up an ace to give UBCO an 8-2 lead in the second set as the Thunderbirds clawed back into a gritty set. Clark cranked a kill at 17-13 UBCO and Dowhaniuk came up with a solo block at 18-16 Heat. A Brandsma kill brought the ‘Birds within one at 21-20, and a UBCO error tied it up at 21-21 before Dowhaniuk gave UBC the lead with a kill. Dowhaniuk then lifted the ‘Birds to a set point with a timely ace and Brandsma closed it out with a kill at 25-23.  

UBC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set and led 12-7 after a Brandsma kill. Clark maintained the five-point T-Bird cushion with a kill at 15-10 before Dowhaniuk flew in for a massive backrow kill at 16-11. Dowhaniuk then put the ‘Birds up six with a kill off the block at 20-14, but Heppell earned a big block for the Heat at 23-19 UBC and Jordan Simpson made it a two-point deficit at 23-21. The Thunderbirds held strong down the stretch and capped off the set with a Brandsma block – 25-22.

The T-Birds led 6-2 in the fourth set after a Clark kill and extended their lead on a Brandsma kill at 14-7. Dowhaniuk made it 19-12 with a kill before serving up an ace at 21-13. UBC earned a match point on a Heat error and capped off the night with a monster Dowhaniuk kill – 25-15.

UBC and UBCO will rematch on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on an evening that will honour graduating seniors Jonathan Lee, Coltyn Liu, Zec Johnson, Tyson Smith, and Zarley Zalusky.

“We have five guys moving on who have meant so much to the program – even the college transfers who have only been here for a couple of years – they’re integral to who we are and what we do,” added Hawkins. “I’m really excited for those guys. Seniors night is definitely a night you always remember, so we’re hoping those guys can go out on top.”

Tickets are available for free online, with live streaming available on Canada West TV.