WINNIPEG – The UBC Thunderbirds (8-8) battled back from a set down on Saturday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre, winning three straight to top the Manitoba Bisons (2-16) 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-22).

Anna Price led the attack with 13 kills, while Brynn Pasin and Gabrielle Attieh both had 12. Manitoba was led by Kearley Abbott and Light Uchechukwu, who both had ten kills. 

Manitoba overcame a 23-21 deficit in the first set, getting two key blocks from middle Jaidyn Spencer down the stretch to win by three. The T-Birds were led by Brynne Pasin, who had four kills on six attacks, while Gabrielle Attieh also had four.

Both sides tightened up defensively in the second set, combining for 37 digs as momentum swung back and forth. A service ace from Allison Alcock tied the contest at 19, however Pasin and Attieh came on strong down the stretch will a kill each. Through two, Pasin led all players with ten kills, while Abbott had seven for the hosts.

The visitors took an 11-3 lead early in the third set and maintained momentum in a 25-15 victory. Middle/outside hitter Jayde Robertsen was particularly effective, finishing with five kills on six attacks, while the team hit 33 percent overall. Spencer continued to be a factor at the net for Manitoba, recording three more assisted blocks while Laura Hill also added three.

The T-Birds — one of the conference's leading teams from the service line — caused problems in that department in the fourth set, including a run of three straight from Tessa Davis to give her side a 17-16 lead. Manitoba stayed in the contest with a few key kills from Uchechukwu, but couldn't complete the comeback.

Despite the result, Bisons head coach Ken Bentley has been happy with aspects of his young roster's play.

"I think the young kids have, generally speaking played really well. We're suffering through some first-year errors, but as long as they're good errors and they're intentional and they're made with a good process of thought, then I have no problem with it. The true concept has to be our compete level, and that's been a little spotty.

I thought [left side] Julia Horne played really well today, so I was really happy with her. [Left side] Keziah [Hoeppner] has been really solid too, outside of Light and [libero] Julia Arnold getting a lot of time. I think that they have done a really good job overall, and we're just kind of suffering through some of those first-year mistakes."

Next up for Manitoba is a road tilt against Alberta while UBC is on the bye.