VANCOUVER – The University of Calgary Dinos were downed 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-20) on Saturday evening at War Memorial Gym.
With the win, the 'Birds improve to 5-3 on the season, while the Dinos are still in search of their first victory.
A run midway through the opening set turned the tides for the home team. Tied at 12-12, the T-Birds went on a 4-1 run, taking a three point lead into the technical timeout. It was an edge the 'Birds would not relinquish, as they took the opening set 25-19.
UBC jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the second set, before Calgary's
Autumn Davidson stepped up and delivered two clutch aces. The Dinos then came all the way back to tie it at 12-12, but the T-Birds used a mid-set run to pull away and took a 16-12 lead into the technical timeout. The 'Birds continued to pour on a relentless attack and captured the second set 25-15.
The third set was another back-and-forth affair early on, but the Dinos broke through to snag a 12-10 lead forcing UBC to use a timeout. Calgary's momentum continued out of the break as
Trinity Solecki added a pair of kills to her total and the Dinos led 16-12 at the technical timeout.
The teams exchanged points down the stretch until the 'Birds brought in Kacey Jost, who up 20-19, delivered not one but two crucial aces to extend her teams' lead to three. The T-Birds pulled away as Heather Pippus dropped an ace to propel UBC to a 25-20 set victory for the match.
Gabrielle Attieh led the T-Birds with a game-high 17 kills, while Jayde Robertsen and Courtney Hillier added nine kills apiece. The Solecki sisters came out on top for the Dinos, as
Trinity Solecki had a team high six kills while
Rachel Solecki totaled five kills.
The 'Birds remain at home to host the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack for a special Thunderstruck event next Friday, while Calgary heads to Regina to take on the Cougars.