UBC’s 14-time national championship-winning women’s volleyball team took on the University of Regina Cougars this past weekend in a crushing full sweep in their season’s home opener, 3–0 and 3–0.
Before this weekend’s series, both past and current T-Birds filled the War Memorial Gym seats in celebration of the 2024 U Sports Championship banner unveiling commemorating another championship. UBC also honoured Dr. Jack Taunton, a beloved UBC emeritus kinesiology professor and supporter of UBC Athletics, who died last week.
The Amanjit Payer Memorial Award was also presented to fourth-year outside hitter Akash Grewal, for her excellent skill, sportsmanship and spirit to the Thunderbirds and UBC community.
Friday’s first set took off with three killer aces from Grewal. Third-year setter Issy Robershaw’s chemistry with her frontline took down the Cougars’ defense with ease, finishing the set with a whopping score of 25–9.
“Part of it is just the relationships off the court,” said Robershaw about this year’s T-Birds seamless chemistry. “Having that trust and connection with them off the court translates really well on the court.”
Outside hitter Lucy Borowski dominated the second set, knocking off the first three of the first five points. Grewal brought the heat for her team as Regina picked up their defence. Head coach Doug Reimer decided to make eight subs near the end of the set. They continued to slam the scoreboard, winning the set 25–16, and showed how strong this year’s team is overall in chemistry and versatility.
“What’s really rewarding is seeing us making subs and younger players, and then keeping a high level of play, even with some changes in personnel and trying different things,” said Reimer after the game. “It’s huge, because they get a feel, both good and bad for [it]… [and] go back into training for a purpose to get better or to build some confidence.”
In the final set of Friday’s game, the Cougars fought back, starting to get a groove of their defence, but “Grewal the Decapitator” (according to the announcer) could not be stopped. The ‘Birds’ offence reigned, including a stunning dump from Robershaw which blew the crowd away. A Grewal kill won the game for T-Birds with a score of 25–16.
For the first set of Saturday’s, the Cougars came in fresh to fight the Thunderbirds with a stronger defensive play, rattling some T-Bird serves. But Mackenzie Campbell, a newer starting setter, broke Regina’s momentum with a sneaky dump, putting her team back on track. Outside hitter Kylee Glanville finished the set with the final kill, 25–18.
To start the second set right, Reimer put up a power frontline to take down the Cougars’ wall with outside hitter Emelie Silovs, Borowski and Grewal. This set off the team’s momentum with a crazy run from 17–10. Campbell finished the set with a killer serve and a whopping score of 25–10.
Middle blocker Tianna Kehler opened the final set of the night with an insane kill and outside hitter Ella Ungemach ended it in the same fashion, 25–12.
The Thunderbirds’ next game is on Friday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. in War Memorial Gym against their long-standing competitor, the nationally fourth-ranked Trinity Western University Spartans.
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