BOX SCORE VANCOUVER - The No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds women's volleyball team won the first of two contests this weekend against the University of Calgary Dinos with an authoritative 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-11) triumph on Saturday afternoon in Vancouver.
With the victory UBC improves to 9-0, while the Dinos fall to 4-5 on the year.
The Thunderbirds offence was led by
Rosie Schlagintweit,
Lisa Barclay, and
Abbey Keeping, who tallied 12, nine and nine kills, respectively. Barclay also led the team in digs, with 11;
Kirsty Setterlund contributed 35 assists.
Ali Woolley led Calgary with eight kills while
Maura Hayes tallied 10 digs.
UBC immediately grabbed the momentum in the first set with a quick kill by Keeping. In the front row, Keeping and
Mariah Bruinsma put-up strong blocks to deter Dino attacks, while Schlagintweit championed the offence with four kills in the opening set. As play progressed, the 'Birds kept up this momentum, using a 6-0 run to build their lead to 18-8. The Dinos struggled to respond to Thunderbird attacks and UBC's Setterlund kept Calgary guessing by alternating her sets across the court. After a five-person substitution late in the set by head coach
Doug Reimer, the 'Birds would close the set 25-17 with a commanding block by
Juliana Kaufmanis and Bruinsma.
UBC found itself first on the scoreboard in the second set with an ace by Setterlund. Early in the set, play was far more competitive than in the first, as the Dinos managed to fall into a comfortable rhythm. UBC responded with commanding attacks from
Alissa Coulter,
Barclay, and Bruinsma. Keeping came alive in the middle of the set, creating opportunities for the 'Birds through strong serves, consistent blocks, and hard attacks.
A
Jaylynn Moffatt kill gave the Dinos a 19-18 lead but the home team responded by winning seven of the next 10 points, a run capped off by a combination block from Coulter and Bruinsma on
Janna Ogle, to claim the set 25-22.
The Dinos went on a 3-0 run to start the third set and were tied 8-8 with the 'Birds after the first 16 points. But UBC answered and regained the lead as Keeping and Barclay led the 'Birds with fierce attacks, pushing the advantage to 14-9. After Calgary won the next point on another Moffatt kill, UBC captured 11 of the next 12 points to finish the third set convincingly 25-11.
The teams will face off again on Sunday afternoon at War Memorial Gymnasium. The first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. Pacific.
