EDMONTON - For the third time in eight seasons, the UBC Thunderbirds opened the Canada West Rugby 7s series claiming the top spot at the UofA Tournament following two grueling days of competition inside the Dome at Foote Field.
 
It is the second UofA tournament win in three years for the T-Birds, who also won in 2023 and 2019. This year was led by sophomore Adia Pye, who not only recorded a try in every match played but also led the tournament in tries with eight. Pye's two critical first-half tries in their 12-5 victory over Victoria helped solidify the team's 5-0 record.
 
With their highest finish since joining the 7s series, the Trinity Western Spartans impressed with a 4-1 record to place second. Their hard-fought 12-10 victory over the host Alberta Pandas was a standout, highlighted by Ava Van Santen's centre-field break to place the ball between the post in the first half, which proved to be the difference maker. Van Santen finished the weekend with five tries, four of which came in two matches on Sunday.
 
Trailing TWU 12-5, Pandas rookie Riley Reid touched the ball down along the sideline in the final seconds, however the convert attempt to tie the game came up, ending the game.
 
With both teams looking not to leave empty-handed, the Calgary Dinos and Lethbridge Pronghorns left everything on the turf in a match-up full of line breaks and heavy hits. Despite a two-try effort from second-year Zina Umeh, bringing her weekend total to five on the weekend, the Pronghorns would fall to the Dinos, 21-10.
 
All six teams will have two weeks to rest and strategize before reconvening in Langley, BC on February 7th and 8th as the Trinity Western Spartans play host for Tournament 2.
 
RUGBY 7s STANDINGS
 

	TEAM	W	L	POINTS
1	UBC	5	0	10
2	Trinity Western	4	1	8
3	Victoria	3	2	6
4	Alberta	2	3	4
5	Calgary	1	4	2
6	Lethbridge	0	5	0

Point System: 1st Place - 10 points / 2nd Place - 8 points / 3rd Place - 6 points / 4th Place - 4 points / 5th Place - 2 points
 
ROUND 4
 
Game 12: Alberta Pandas (0) vs UBC Thunderbirds (29)
 
Scoring Summary:
 

	1	2	T
ALB	0	0	0
UBC	19	10	29

 
UBC try - #1 Kiki Idowu (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 7-0 UBC
UBC try - #11 Adia Pye (convert missed) 12-0 UBC
UBC try - #14 Brooke Roddham (#7 Skye Farish convert) 21-0 UBC
HALF
UBC try - #1 Kiki Idowu (convert missed) 26-0 UBC
UBC try - #15 Shalaya Valenzuela (convert missed) 31-0 UBC
 
ROUND 5
 
Game 14: Alberta Pandas (10) vs Trinity Western Spartans (12)
 
Scoring Summary:
 

	1	2	T
ALB	5	5	10
TWU	7	5	12

 
ALB try - #19 Shaely Moodie (convert missed) 5-0 ALB
TWU try - #6 Ava Van Santen (#5 Jenna DeGreef convert) 7-5 TWU
HALF
TWU try - #15 Hailey Hibbs (convert missed) 12-5 TWU
ALB try - #15 Riley Reid (convert missed) 12-10 TWU