UBC women’s volleyball is going for Canada West (CW) gold for the first time since 2018, after sweeping the University of Alberta Pandas on Friday (27–25, 25–21, 25–23) and Saturday (28–26, 25–15, 25–20).
Saturday’s game was electric with supporters filling the War Memorial Gym stands. The UBC crowd wore blue and gold, banging on yellow T-Bird branded buckets. Each point showed a massive effort from both teams, and the crowd roared every time the ‘Birds prevailed.
The connection between Pandas setter Justine Kolody and her front row gave the ‘Birds trouble early in the first set, with the score quickly going up to 12–4. Despite UBC’s slow start, setter Issy Robertshaw’s connection with outside hitter Akash Grewal brought heat to the T-Birds’ court.
UBC was steadily earning points, but still lagged behind Alberta well into the set. A Lauryn Tremblay kill from the Pandas brought the score to 20–14. An Erika Vermette kill brought UBC within two points of Alberta for the first time, and Pandas errors tied the set. Alberta had multiple set points, but the T-Birds fought each of them off to tie the score at 24, playing some of the best volleyball fans have seen this season. A block by Grewal and captain Claire Cossarini won the first set for the ‘Birds, 28–26.
The Thunderbirds came out swinging in the second set, wracking up eight kills on ten points. Robertshaw commanded the court and dictated the team’s offense. But no kill or set can happen without a pass, and libero Kacey Jost — who was named CW libero of the year for the second year in a row — came ready to put up dimes for her team.
Alberta’s Laila Johnston, from Kolody assist, brought the Pandas some momentum, leading to a Kolody setter dump. Despite their efforts, they were unable to pull away with a lead or tie the score. UBC’s Vermette — who led the team in kills on the weekend with 27 — was on fire, with service receive and defence as steady and reliable as her presence at the net.
And Grewal, who leads CW in aces, wracked up two-in-a-row off the Pandas’ libero and a clean no-touch ace, bringing the ‘Birds to 18–9. Two Vermette kills and a Trinity Solecki ace brought UBC to set point. An Alberta serving error gave UBC the second set, 25–15.
The third set brought the pressure to the Pandas — losing this game meant they would lose their shot at CW gold and would have to fight for a berth to the national championships. The ‘Birds stayed level-headed even with victory within their reach, communicating with each other and working as a unit. Kills from outside hitters Lucy Borowski and Grewal and middles Emma Doyon and Cossarini brought UBC to a quick lead, 8–3, forcing the Pandas into a timeout.
The referee had T-Birds fans rilled up with marathon runs that seemed to work for the ‘Birds going to the Pandas. A serve from UBC’s Victoria D’Acre got the Pandas out of system, and a Borowski attack was sent back over to the team after two one-armed digs from Alberta’s Guzman and libero, Kalysta Knappett. A Cossarini attack got the crowd and the team cheering. But the referee called the ball out, giving the point to the Pandas and causing a steady chant of “Ref, you suck” from the rafters, something that also happened in the first set.
The teams traded points until Alberta outside hitter and CW rookie of the year Abby Guezen got a kill off a Vermette dig error. However, that wasn’t enough for the team to tie up, and a Tremblay ball handling error sent the Pandas into their second timeout of the set.
Tremblay redeemed herself with a kill down the line, but Robertshaw caught the Pandas on their heels with a setter dump right into the pot. An Alberta service error gave the T-Birds match point and a Panda attack error sealed the deal for UBC.
UBC’s win sends them to the CW championship for the first time since 2018, and secured their bearth for U Sports nationals in Hamilton, Ontario.
Head coach Doug Reimer said it’s exciting for the team to be going to the CW championship and to nationals, but it wasn’t without hard work.
“We were able to hang in there and keep pushing, not easy to beat a team like that … by any means,” said Reimer. “We definitely earned it with some good all-round play.”
This CW gold medal game is the first one any current ‘Birds will go to.
“This is my first time in all my years I’m going to the Canada West final so I'm super excited,” said Jost. “I want two banners, so it'd be nice to secure this one and then head to nationals and do the same.”
“I'm excited to face off Manitoba again.”
UBC will host the University of Manitoba Bisons on Saturday at War Memorial Gym. First serve is at 5 p.m.