VANCOUVER - With only one game remaining in the 2009-10 regular season, a home matinee against the SFU Clan (3-16) on Saturday, February 13th (3:00 p.m.), the no. 1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds (19-0) are three sets away from a season of perfection.
Quantifying UBC's unblemished run, which actually stretches back 34 games into their 2008-09 campaign, is a tall task, however, the numbers are staggering.
Having yet to drop a match this campaign, the top-ranked 'Birds look to close out a 20-0 season for the first time in the Canada West since the Calgary Dinos turned the trick back in 2004-05.
The T-Birds have dropped only nine sets so far this season, the lowest mark in the Canada West since Alberta (19-1) lost seven back in 1999-00.
Furthermore, the two-time defending CIS Champions have literally been perfect at home so far in 2009-10 and they have yet to drop a set in their nine home matches.
Continuing the list of impressive achievements is UBC's performance in the new year. Over the last five weeks, the T-Birds have won 10 straight matches against teams that are all ranked in the CIS Top 10 and that have a combined 79-31 (.718) record outside of their games against UBC.
The team leads the Canada West in kills (13.39/game), assists (12.45/game), hitting percentage (.268), blocks (2.61/game) and opponent hitting percentage (.108) while ranking third in service aces (1.61/game).
UBC's balance on both sides of the net has been one of the biggest keys to their run. Their roster boasts fives players averaging more than 1.50 kills per game, led by fifth-year standout
Liz Cordonier who ranks third in the CW (3.38/game).
Cordonier is also one of three T-Birds that rank among the top 10 in the conference in hitting percentage. Middle
Jen Hinze tops the CW with a .379 hitting percentage and is joined by fellow middle
Jessica von Schilling (.317) and Cordonier (.274) among the league leaders.
Von Schilling and Hinze anchor UBC's formidable block and rank first and fifth respectively in the conference with 1.17 and 1.09 blocks per game. Right side
Kyla Richey is another prominent player in that part of UBC's game, sitting fourth in the CW (1.11/game).
Fifth-year setter, and team captain,
Katie Tyzuk is the mastermind behind the UBC offence and ranks second in the league with 9.92 assists per game.
Claire Hanna, the reigning Canada West Libero of the Year, only ranks eighth in the league with 3.11 digs per game but that has little to do with her game this season. The T-Birds team defence has been so strong this year that she is rarely called upon to make too many point saving plays.
Standing in UBC's way of a perfect regular season are the SFU Clan. This will be the Clan's final game as a member of the CIS as the school moves to the NCAA Division II next season.
SFU has struggled for large stretches this season, however, they have won two of their last four games. They rank near the bottom of the Canada West in every major team statistic except digs where they sit sixth with 13.86 per game.
The Clan keep many points alive with a solid team effort in the back court, they have five players averaging more than two digs per game, however, their inability to convert offensively has hurt them all season long.
Colleen Duville is having a strong season, averaging 3.29 kills per game to rank fourth in the CW, however, the Clan struggle with picking up kills as they sport a team hitting percentage of .137.
Their block is also among the lowest in the league, averaging 1.65 per game, and only Duville and KJ Fridfinnson average more than 0.52 blocks per game.
The two teams met once earlier this season at UBC's War Memorial Gym with the T-Birds earning a 3-0 win (25-13,25-12,25-23).
News & Notes
Get into the 2010 Games
Come out this weekend for your chance to win tickets and "Get into the 2010 Games."
Road Closures
The University is experiencing a number of road closures as a host site (Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Access to campus from 16th avenue is not available from February 4-24. Access to campus via 10th/University avenue or 4th avenue is available without restrictions. Parking on campus will be very busy during this time. North Parkade (adjacent to Gage Residence) is likely the best place to find parking on campus for T-Bird games at War Memorial Gym. Public transportation will also be busy but would be a viable alternative during this period of road closures. For complete details on UBC's road restrictions please see the
Road Restrictions Maps.
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