VANCOUVER - After missing the post season for just the second time under head coach
Richard Schick in 2009-10, the UBC Thunderbirds are set to kick-off in a new direction in 2010-11. With almost all their key players returning and a number of talented new faces in the mix, the 'Birds have a line-up that should be in the mix for a spot in the Canada West post-season.
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A LOOK AT THE THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds will have to come out of the gate strong this season, as they host the Trinity Western Spartans, last year's CIS silver medalists, on opening weekend. Although the 'Birds struggled last year, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002, tougher competition seemed to bring out the best in the team. They picked up two of their four wins against playoff teams, including one against the CIS champion Calgary Dinos, who lost just six matches all year including playoffs en route to the national title.
The 'Birds return almost all their key players from last year's squad, including defending CIS Libero of the Year
Blair Bann, who will also be looking to capture an unprecedented fourth-straight Canada West Libero of the Year award this season. Hard-hitting and high-flying outside hitter
Demijan Savija is also back after leading the 'Birds with 3.19 kills-per-game in his first season with the Blue and Gold. Schick bolstered his outside hitter ranks by adding dangerous rookie
Ben Chow to the left side. Chow was the second-ranked recruit in last year's graduating B.C. high school volleyball class by The Province newspaper. Middle
Joe Cordonier will also be a keystone player for the 'Birds this year, as he was third in the conference last season with 1.16 blocks-per-game.
After beginning the preseason with a two-week tour of South Korea, the 'Birds kicked off the action on Canadian soil with a split against Thompson Rivers University that saw UBC take a five-set thriller in game one before losing 3-0 in game two.
A LOOK AT THE SPARTANS
The Spartans seemed poised to take home CIS gold last year after upsetting top-ranked Laval in the semifinals, but ended up losing 3-1 to Calgary in the championship game. But they already know they will get a chance to make amends this season as hosts of the 2011 CIS tournament. They too are returning many key players this season, but with one big exception. Last year's team kills leader Steven Marshall opted to play on the beach circuit this season rather than returning for his junior year at Trinity Western. He finished fourth in the conference with 3.69 kills-per-game last year, leaving the Spartans with a significant amount of offensive production to replace.
The Spartans have been a busy team this preseason, playing 12 games over the past 30 days against some tough competition from across Canada, including 2010 CIS tournament participants Alberta, Thompson Rivers and Dalhousie. They went 8-4 in the preseason, and are heading into the regular season as the No. 3-ranked team, leaving team leaders like setter Ben Ball, left side Marc Howatson and middle Josh Doornenbal with some big expectations to deal with. Howatson is the team's top returning kills leader with an average of 2.73 last year. Ball was second in the conference with 10.73 assists last year, and Doornenball was named a second-team conference all star.
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