VANCOUVER - The top ranked UBC Thunderbirds (15-0) became the first Canada West team to clinch a playoff spot last weekend. Now they have their sights set on locking up first place in the conference, but it won't be easy as they welcome the no. 2 ranked Manitoba Bisons (12-3) to War Memorial Gym this Friday and Saturday.
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A look at the Thunderbirds
At 15-0 with a three-game lead in the conference, the T-Birds couldn't ask for a better situation heading into the final weeks of the regular season. A sweep against Manitoba, or three wins over their five remaining games will guarantee them the top seed heading into the postseason.
A quick look at the numbers and it becomes obvious why the T-Birds are the team to beat in the Canada West this season. They rank first in hitting percentage at .259 - 11 points better than second-ranked Manitoba and 58 points better than anyone else. They are also the top-ranked defensive squad with a .103 opponent hitting percentage, which is 43 points better than any other team. The 'Birds also rank first in blocking and assists, second in kills and third in service aces, making them a dominant squad from any angle.
Liz Cordonier is third in the conference with 3.32 kills-per-game, but she is just one component of a multi-faceted attack in which
Kyla Richey,
Jen Hinze and
Shanice Marcelle all average more than 2.25 kills-per-game. Setter
Katie Tyzuk can take some of the credit for making the UBC offence so well-balanced, as she is second in the conference with 9.74 assists-per-game.
The T-Birds also boast three top-ten blockers to confuse opposing offences. First-year middle
Jessica von Schilling is second in the Canada West with 1.15 blocks-per-game after a monster performance last weekend against Calgary (one solo block and seven block assists in a 3-0 sweep), while Hinze and Richey are seventh and eighth respectively, averaging just over one block each.
A look at the Bisons
The Bisons are coming off a split with Alberta, which kept them a half-game up on the Pandas in second place. At 12-3, they are going to need some help if they are going to overtake UBC in the standings, however, they are just one win away from securing a playoff spot.
Although they rank in the middle of the pack defensively, the Bisons make up for that with their deadly offence. They have the second-best team hitting percentage and the most kills-per-game of any squad in Canada West. Sam Lowen leads the conference as the only setter averaging more than 10 assists-per-game. Ashley Voth and Kristi Hunter both average well over three kills-per-game.
Voth and Hunter have been active on defence as well, each averaging more than 2.50 digs-per-game. Amy Penner anchors the middle position for Manitoba with 1.13 blocks-per-game, and will have her hands full against UBC's wealth of dangerous hitters.
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