The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds won the 2024 Canadian University Women’s National Volleyball Championships on Sunday. The Thunderbirds won their 14th national title in women’s volleyball by beating the University of Alberta Pandas 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23 at McMaster University’s Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton, Ontario.
Four Thunderbirds reached double digits in points in the championship final. Outside hitter Akash Grewal of Vancouver, British Columbia led the Thunderbirds in points with 19. Meanwhile, setter Lucy Borowski of Vancouver had 14.5 points, middle Claire Cossarini of Calgary, Alberta had 14 points, and Erika Vermette of Morris, Manitoba had 12.5 points. Grewal led the Thunderbirds with 14 kills, Borowski led the Thunderbirds with 17 digs, Cossarini led the Thunderbirds with three solo blocks, and Issy Robertshaw of Calgary led the Thunderbirds with 41 assists.
The Thunderbirds entered the national championship as the second seed, only behind the University of Manitoba Bisons. However, the Bisons were upset 25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 18-16 by the Pandas in a dramatic semifinal that took two hours and 24 minutes to complete. In the quarterfinals, the Thunderbirds beat the host McMaster University Marauders 25-19, 0-25, 25-21, 25-18. In the semifinals, the Thunderbirds beat the Acadia University Axewomen 25-16, 25-8, 25-21.
From 1971 to 1982, a round robin format was used to determine a national university women’s volleyball champion. In that time, the UBC Thunderettes won in 1973, 1974, 1977 and 1978. Since the single elimination format was used in 1983, the Thunderbirds won in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
