CALGARY – The No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds proved too much for the University of Calgary Dinos women's volleyball team Friday night with a three-set sweep inside the Jack Simpson Gym, winning 25-16, 25-18, 25-14.

The win moved the now 12-3 Thunderbirds into second in Canada West, while Calgary still sits in eighth with a record of 6-9.

The game started tight, with the teams trading points and tied 13-13 until a beautiful kill by Kylee Glanville gave UBC the lead. After another point from Jocelyn Lenarcic and two straight aces, the Thunderbirds' lead grew to four, and they never looked back. Calgary would score just three points after the 13-13 tie, and UBC won the first set 25-16.

UBC kept the momentum early in the second set, storming out to a 10-3 lead. But points from Leni Blanke, Anya Fehr, Ashley Ditchfield, and Sophia Hansen helped the Dinos cut the deficit to two, trailing just 13-11 midway through the set.

"There were definitely some moments in the game where we showed what we can do," said Dinos head coach Christine Biggs after the game. "We've just got to channel that all the way through."

UBC would once again pull away later in the set, winning six of the next seven points to take a 19-12 lead. A late comeback from the Dinos came up short, and the Thunderbirds took the second set 25-18.

Four service aces in the final set helped UBC take home the 3-0 victory, but kills from Narelle Arnold, Blanke, and Ditchfield helped keep it close early. Blanke ended the set with three kills of her own, but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds took the third 25-14.

It was a big night at the service line for Lenora Barbulovich-Nad, who racked up a career-high seven aces.

"The battle is where we can execute our game plan more consistently," said Biggs. "We just need to level that out for tomorrow."

The teams will face off again Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Jack Simpson Gym.

-UC-