The UBC Thunderbirds wrapped up a weekend sweep of the University of the Fraser Valley men's volleyball team, prevailing in three sets on Saturday afternoon.
In the midst of a grueling 10-games-in-18-days stretch, the Cascades (0-12) made four changes to their starting lineup, and it paid dividends early, as the hosts scored the first three points of the match and had great energy as a group. The Thunderbirds (7-5), though, found their footing and rallied to win the first set 25-19, and continued to carry the momentum from there, taking the next two 25-13 and 25-18.
Up next for the Cascades volleyball teams is a home-and-home series vs. Trinity Western University – Thursday at the UFV Athletic Centre (MVB 6 p.m., WVB 8 p.m.) and Friday at the Langley Events Centre (WVB 6 p.m., MVB 8 p.m.).Â
"I thought we had a lot of guys who put up a good fight . . . they (UBC) are just really good," UFV outside hitter
Comrie Engbers said afterward. "They went on some runs on us . . . but I'm optimistic for the future, and looking forward to what's coming next."
Engbers had a pair of early kills as the Cascades led 8-5 in the first set, but the T-Birds rallied to take seven of the next eight points, headlined by four Michael Dowhaniuk kills, and they pulled away from there.
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In the second, a Zarley Zalusky service run allowed UBC to open a 7-2 lead, and a Mason Greves run at the line midway through the set – highlighted by a pair of aces – paved the way for the visitors to take it in decisive fashion, 25-13.
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In the third, back-to-back kills from Dunan Clark helped the T-Birds gain some separation at 10-7, and they kept the Cascades at bay the rest of the way, with Dowhaniuk going to work from the service line late in the set to help UBC close it out.
"We're getting used to playing a lot of games in a small amount of days, so it's nothing new to us at this point," Engbers said afterward, noting the workload the Cascades have faced of late. "We've got to make sure we've got our bodies ready, our minds ready, and just stay focused on doing our jobs, playing free, and supporting each other."
Engbers set the tone for the Cascades, posting seven kills to go with four digs. Van Huizen registered 16 assists, libero
Reece Wilson had six digs, and
Ryan Adams and
Bailey Burdick contributed four kills apiece.
Dowhaniuk had a huge game for the T-Birds, racking up 17 kills and hitting .636, and adding four service aces. Setter Greves had four aces of his own to go with 30 assists, Jonathan Lee had nine digs, and Clark chipped in with five kills.
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