VANCOUVER – The University of Calgary Dinos women's volleyball team led for much of the third set but fell 3-0 (18-25, 19-25, 22-25) to the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday at War Memorial Gym.
UBC's serve was the difference in the first two sets. With the opening set tied 6-6, Kylee Glanville went back to the line and reeled off five straight points, including two aces, to force a Calgary timeout. The Dinos pulled within two on a
Julia Tuckwood kill, but the Thunderbirds closed out the set 25-18.
Aimee Skinner did the same to start the second, serving UBC to a 4-0 lead with two aces as the hosts jumped ahead 7-1.
Leni Blanke helped the Dinos claw back to 20-17, forcing a UBC timeout, but the Thunderbirds held on to take the set 25-19.
Calgary's best stretch came in the third. After falling behind 7-3, the Dinos rallied behind
Narelle Arnold's serve, as Arnold tied the set at 11-11 with an ace, Blanke followed with a kill, and Arnold added a second ace for a 13-11 lead. Calgary hit .273 in the set and held the lead as late as 20-19, but Glanville answered with another serving run, including an ace, to put UBC ahead 23-20.
Christine Abu kept the Dinos alive with a kill at 24-22 before a Calgary attack error ended the match.
Blanke led the Dinos with 10 kills on 19 swings while committing just two errors. Arnold added five kills, three aces and two blocks, while Jasmine Chrétien and Tuckwood had four kills apiece. Setter
Anya Fehr finished with 22 assists and eight digs, and
Evvia Belireau added seven digs.
Glanville led UBC with 12 kills and four aces, and Skinner had eight kills and three aces. Akash Grewal added six kills without an error, Jocelyn Lenarcic chipped in five kills and seven block assists, and Issy Robertshaw ran the offence with 29 assists.
The result leaves Calgary at 0-2 to start the Canada West season, while UBC moves to 2-0.
The Dinos will have a bye next weekend and return to action Friday, Nov. 6, when they host the UBC Okanagan Heat in their home opener at 5:30 p.m. at Jack Simpson Gym. Tickets are available at GoDinos.com/Tickets.
UBC will travel to face the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Oct. 30.
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