After months of preparation and twenty-three games, the women’s volleyball team is just one win away from a third straight national championship.

The no. 1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds defeated the Laval Rouge et Or in straight sets today (25-19, 25-22, 25-17), overcoming Laval’s high energy and effective defense for a straight-set victory.

The first set saw UBC cruise to a 25–19 victory, with  both teams play tentatively in their first match against each other since the 2009 CIS championships. In the second set however, after building a solid 14-8 lead, the T-Birds gave up an 11-4 run, giving Laval a lead at 19-18. Laval had locked down outside hitters Shanice Marselle and Liz Cordonier with a strong blocking game, and UBC was, for the first time in the tournament, somewhat on the ropes.

However, head coach Doug Reimer went to the bench, substituting in Lauren Whitehead and Brina Derksen-Bergen, which led to UBC closing out the set with a 7-3 run. In the third set, Reimer repeated the trick: tied at 16, Rayel Quiring entered the match, and spurred the team to a 9-1 run to close out the game.

“For our team to be able to sub from a position of strength is important,” said Reimer, adding “One of things we do is bring good depth. We also trust our block and the team defence we have around it.”

Shanice Marselle added, “everyone went in and did their job; it shows our depth.”

The key on defense for the T-Birds was the ability to keep Laval star—and second-team All-Canadian—Melanie Savoie’s effectiveness to a minimum. Head Coach Doug Reimer was characteristically modest about the team’s defensive efforts.

“[Savoie] is the heart and soul of that team in a lot of ways… I think we had the advantage Regina didn’t, seeing her timing. I’m sure if we played her again she’d figure out a way to get it done.”

UBC only connected for a .200 attack percentage, an unusually low number for a team that averaged .273 during the regular season. Reimer noted that the semifinal match brought “some uncharacteristic mistakes for our team…[that's] a little bit Laval, being scrappy and forcing the play and a little bit it’s the semifinal of the national championships and weird things happen and you have to roll with it.”

The T-Birds face the no. 3 ranked Manitoba Bisons in tomorrow’s gold medal match, a rematch of the Canada West final, where UBC prevailed in five sets. A win for the T-Birds would be their seventh national title and tie them with Alberta and Winnipeg for the most all time. Naturally, both players and coaches are optimistic and excited.

“I expect it to be an amazing game; no matter who we play,” said Marcelle, not knowing after the game who UBC would have to play. For his part, Reimer added “we’re going to have to earn everything against whoever we play.”