VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's volleyball team will celebrate the beginning of 2012 by playing some of the best squads on the continent in California.

The Thunderbirds are traveling south to play four exhibition matches against some of the most successful Division I schools in NCAA history.

"I want us to continue on what we've done in the first half," said UBC head coach Richard Schick. "Just a little more consistency rather than the highs and the lows."

UBC's first match will take place at 7 p.m. at UCLA's John Wooden Center. The Bruins have won 19 of the 42 NCAA Championships that have taken place.

The next day, the T-Birds will battle Cal State Northridge at 2 p.m.

The team will get New Year's Day off before returning to action on Jan. 2 at Pepperdine in Malibu. The Waves have won five NCAA national titles, the second most behind UCLA.

The Thunderbirds will round out their tour on Jan. 3 with a 7 p.m. match at Long Beach State, a team that won the 1991 NCAA title and finished 2011 ranked sixth in the final NCAA polls.

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"I am looking forward to the competition," said Schick. "And obviously, the guys will be looking forward to the California sun."

The team will be staying in Manhattan Beach, a prime destination for volleyball enthusiasts from all around the world. UBC will also take in a Vancouver Canucks hockey game as well as an Los Angeles Clippers basketball contest during their time in southern California.

But the main focus is on getting better in preparation for the resumption of league play in January.

"We've played with a different group for most of the first half and with some of the guys who are injured or maybe didn't get a lot of playing time, this is going to be their opportunity," said Schick. "We play four matches in seven days so I'm not going to be just playing the same guys.  There's going to be a lot of opportunities."

The next Canada West conference games for UBC will take place on the weekend of Jan. 13-14, when the Thunderbirds host Thompson Rivers at War Memorial Gymnasium.