SASKATOON – They were made to work for it by the Huskies (2-2), but the UBC T-Birds (4-0) had the firepower required to take down the Saskatchewan side in straight sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-19).
Wil Basilio and Gavin Moes led the way offensively with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while Basilio also chipped in with a team-high six digs. Alex Emery was very efficient over the middle with six kills on just eight attack attempts, along with four blocks.
Lucas Musschoot and Mathieu Methot combined for 18 kills and just two attack errors for the Huskies, but the rest of their teammates combined for just 13 kills and 16 attack errors.
The two teams went back and forth for much of the first set, before an Emery ace and Basilio kill gave UBC a little bit of breathing room at 17-13. They were able to maintain the advantage for the rest of the frame, despite some pressure from the hosts. Another Basilio kill, his fourth of the set, ended things at 25-22.
The Huskies held the lead for much of the second, going up by as many as four points midway through the set. The T-Birds started to reel them back in from there though, and a Saskatchewan service error put the teams even at 20 points apiece for the final stretch.
The ‘Birds showed their clutch factor from there, only allowing the hosts to score one more point. A block from the duo of Emery and Alex Borowski set up set point, which eventually came through yet another Huskies service error.
UBC looked inclined to blow out the Huskies in the third, after six unanswered points put the ‘Birds up 17-11 and nearing victory. To their credit the Saskatoon outfit fought back and cut the deficit to as little as two, but the Thunderbirds again closed things out with aplomb, with a Basilio ace helping spark a run of four straight points to finish off the match.
Next up for the ‘Birds is a weekend date with the Thompson Rivers WolfPack. Those two teams will take to the floor at War Memorial Gym on November 6 and 7.