Courtenay’s Joel Regehr and his UBC Thunderbird teammates won the Canadian university (U SPORTS) men’s volleyball title by defeating Trinity Western University in straight sets (3-0) in the final, Sunday at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.
The Thunderbirds were ranked number three heading into the tourney while TWU was the top seed — but UBC swept their B.C. rival.
“We got it done in three,” said Regehr, 22, a 6-foot-7 middle blocker who is in his fourth year of kinesiology at UBC.
His team “came out flying” and won the first two sets 25-22 and 25-18. The third set was a little tougher, with UBC prevailing 27-25.
In the semis, the Thunderbirds defeated the number-two ranked University of Alberta in four sets.
“That was the only set we lost the entire tourament,” Regehr said, noting the rarity of two B.C. teams meeting in the final. “I think it’s the first time.”
A graduate of Isfeld Secondary who played on Canada’s junior national team in 2016, Regehr has one year of study remaining at UBC. He plans on trying out for the national men’s B team this summer. Long-term, he hopes to play at the professional level.