UBC’s women’s volleyball team advanced to the Canada West semifinals after dominating the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Friday and Saturday in War Memorial Gym. The wins also secured the two-time defending national champions a spot in the U Sports national tournament.
The weekend started strong as the ‘Birds swept Friday’s game in straight sets, by at least 10 points each (25–15, 25–13, 25–14). Outside hitter Akash Grewal led the team in kills with 14, followed by outside hitter Lucy Borowski with 12. Setter Issy Robertshaw also played a crucial role with 29 assists and 4 kills.
“I think the team … because we had [a] bit [of] success, does feel some pressure,” UBC head coach Doug Reimer said. “But I think every year is different.”
“Overall, it was one of the cleanest and best matches of the year in so many areas of what we did,” he said. “We should feel very good about our performance today.”
After a booming start to the series on Friday, the ‘Birds maintained their momentum into Saturday’s game.
UBC took early control in the first set with Grewal and Borowski kills, followed by a massive block from Emelie Silovs, forcing TRU into an early timeout at 8–3. Borowski helped build a comfortable lead, showing impressive kills while Grewal landed her second ace of the game at 17–11.
Keira Gent earned a couple points off of the hands of UBC blockers but not enough to close the lead; Grewal finished the game with a cross-court kill, ending the set at 25–16.
TRU came into the second set looking for redemption, building a lead to start. WolfPack rookie Rida Erlalelitepe showed strong attacks taking a four-point lead early on at 6–2.
The ‘Birds stayed composed as both Borowski and Grewal came swinging from the back row, working to close the gap. But TRU showed their grit, giving the ‘Birds more long rallies and blocks. Thunderbird Kylee Glanville made her first appearance during the set with powerful kills to re-take the lead.
UBC continued to apply pressure with Silovs claiming another big block for a 13–11 lead and forcing another WolfPack timeout.
After, TRU came out hot with Hadley Schmidt assisting Brooklyn Olfert in quick kills from the front and back row, not allowing UBC to take a bigger lead. Erlalelitepe had a cross-court kill, attempting to close UBC’s lead at 20–19.
But the ‘Birds kept pushing and executed a slide from middle Jocelyn Lenarcic before Grewal ended the set with another cross-court kill at 25–20.
The momentum of the second set carried over into the third set as the T-Birds quickly claimed a lead. Grewal came in strong earning her sixth ace of the night on an early serving run. More aces from outside hitter Trinity Solecki and Borowski, along with TRU attack errors, pushed UBC’s lead to 12 points at 18–6. The ‘Birds kept their foot on the gas, ending the set at 25–7 with a Silvos ace winning the series.
“This was a really big weekend because it should give us confidence that we can play well under playoff pressure,” Reimer said. “We have improved in certain areas from when we competed even two [or] three weeks ago.”
The ‘Birds now turn their focus to playing the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West Final Four, hosted by the University of Alberta in Edmonton, starting on March 7.
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