LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 5 Trinity Western Spartans had their hands full in tonight's match, as they fell 3-0 to the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 4-2, while the win keeps the Thunderbirds perfect at 6-0.
 
Third-year outside Maryn Boldon (Okotoks, Alta.) with 12 kills, and four blocks, and third-year outside Faye Murray (Rosenort, Man.) with 10 kills led the Spartans, while Trinity Solecki with 10 kills, three blocks, and two aces, and Akash Grewal with nine kills, six digs, and two blocks led the Thunderbirds. TWU fourth-year libero Mikayla McBain (Burlington, Ont.) led all players with 12 digs.
 
Rookie setter Tayana Dmitruk (Surrey, B.C.) ran the Spartans attack and finished with 29 set assists, while Issy Robertshaw led the Thunderbirds attack and finished with 22 set assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans now host the UBC Okanagan Heat on November 15-16 at the Langley Events Centre. Match time is set for 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU lead assistant coach Brynden MacTavish
"I feel that from last Friday, there were some things, especially defensively, that we were significantly better at tonight. But in the end, it came down to a serve pass game and we were a step behind UBC for the whole night in that department, and that's what turned the match."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The opening set was tight throughout, with UBC taking a late 21-18 lead. The Spartans scrambled back and tied the set at 22-22. After a couple of side outs the Thunderbirds were able to take two straight points and win the first set in extra points 26-24. TWU finished the first set hitting .211 (13-5-38), while UBC hit at .179 (12-5-39). The Thunderbirds had a 4-2 edge in blocks, and a 3-1 edge in service aces.
 
The Spartans took control early in the second set leading 10-7 after scoring three straight points. But the Thunderbirds would go on a 7-1 run to take a 14-11 lead and send the Spartans into a timeout. Out of the break UBC was able to expand their lead to six points, 19-13. The Spartans were able to cut the lead to four points, 19-15 but were unable to get closer as the Thunderbirds took the second set 25-20 and a 2-0 lead. TWU hit .067 (10-8-30), while UBC hit .077 (10-7-39). UBC had six aces in the set, and out blocked TWU 4-3.
 
UBC carried the momentum into the final set and quickly jumped out to a 9-2 lead. The Thunderbirds maintained the seven point lead, 16-9, midway through the set. The Spartans pushed back and took four straight points to cut the lead to six-points, 19-13 and force the Thunderbirds into a timeout. TWU took the next point to make it a five-point deficit, 19-14. It was as close as the Spartans would get as UBC closed out the set 25-20, and the match 3-0. TWU hit at .083 (12-9-36) in the final set, while UBC hit at .219 (12-5-32).
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans finished the night hitting .125 (35-22-104), while the Thunderbirds hit at .155 (34-17-110).
• TWU finished with seven blocks, while UBC finished with 14
• UBC had 10 service aces to TWU's one.
• Last weekend on the road the Spartans lost 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-21) to the Thunderbirds at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver, B.C.
• TWU is currently 32-59 lifetime against the Thunderbirds. TWU's last win over UBC in conference play was 3-2 on November 26, 2022.

 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country, and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
 
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