VANCOUVER - After beginning the season in the CIS Top 10, the UBC Thunderbirds are now just 1-5 following four straight losses. They host the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack for a weekend double header at War Memorial this Friday and Saturday (8:00 p.m.) as they look to get back on the winning track.
UBC is trying to rebound from a pair of 3-0 losses on the road last weekend to Saskatchewan. They welcome a Wolfpack team which is just 2-4 on the season.
A look at the Thunderbirds
So far the T-Birds struggles this season have been one offence as they are ranked eighth or lower in the Canada West in hitting percentage (.204), kills (11.08/game), assists (10.46/game), and service aces (0.50/game).
Demijan Savija, who is in his first season at UBC after two years at Capilano, leads the attack with 3.39 kills per game which is good enough for eighth in the conference. He also ranks first on the team in blocks with 1.09 per game with middle
Joe Cordonier just behind at 1.08 per game. That duo leads a T-Bird team that is fourth in the conference in blocks with 2.69 per game, however, they are still allowing their opponents to hit for .266 and over 13 kills per game. Libero
Blair Bann leads the conference with 3.46 digs per game but he is the only T-Bird averaging more than 1.60.
A look at the Wolfpack
TRU sports only a 2-4 record this season, however, those four losses have come at the hands on no. 2 ranked Calgary and no. 3 Alberta. The Wolfpack's offence is run through Gord Perrin and Kevin Tillie who rank first and second in the Canada West with 5.15 and 4.40 kills per game. Setter Colin Carson directs the 'Pack and is averaging 11.35 assists per game, good enough for second in the conference. As a squad they rank third in the conference in hitting percentage (.259), fourth in kills (12.95/game), and first in service aces (1.30/game). Their blocking sees them rank only seventh in the league with two per game and their opponents have had moderate success against them, hitting for .230.
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