Wesmen battle back to defeat T-Birds in five sets

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Wesmen rallied from a two-set hole Sunday to hand the UBC Thunderbirds a 3-2 loss (23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 16-14)  in the second half of their Canada West season opening series at the Duckworth Centre.

Following a five-set loss Friday night, the T-Birds head home after an 0-2 start to the season following the tightly fought battle in the Manitoba capital.

Sunday’s match marked the fourth straight win in conference play for Winnipeg over UBC, a team that beat the Wesmen in last season’s Canada West playoffs with a nationals berth on the line.

The Thunderbirds got out in front thanks to a big run in the first set, wiping out a 22-19 deficit with five straight points that led to the opening frame win.

In set two, UBC set the tone early by winning eight straight points that turned a 3-3 tie into an 11-3 advantage.

The Wesmen, however, began to turn the tables in the third, coming back form 19-17 down with three straight points to take the lead. After the T-Birds tied it at 20, the Wesmen won five of the next eight points and won the frame on a Danny Cravioto-Ross service error.

In Sets four and five, the Wesmen had the Thunderbirds playing from behind through most of the action: They got out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth and UBC didn’t get closer than three after that. In the fifth, Winnipeg built a 13-9 lead only to see the visitors rally with four straight points and send the Wesmen to a timeout. Two errors from UBC, however, sealed the deal.

Isaiah Olfert had 20 kills and hit .486 for the Wesmen, who attacked at a .313 rate for the match. He was the only Winnipeg player in double figures as the Wesmen played 13 players.

Gavin Moes had a match-high 28 kills and seven digs for UBC, which got 17 kills and 10 digs from Reeve Gingera and 12 from Dawson Pratt, who also added three aces.

Calvin Hsu had a match-high 13 digs for the ‘Birds.

UBC will not get the benefit of a quick turnaround to Canada West action as they are slated for a week two bye before hosting the Brandon Bobcats for their home opener at War Memorial Gym on Thursday, October 31.