VANCOUVER – A national championship rematch is the first UBC Thunderbirds home game of 2012.
 
On Thursday, Jan. 5, the No. 1-ranked UBC women's volleyball team will host the No. 7 Laval Rouge et Or at War Memorial Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
 
"One of the good things is Laval has a much different style of play than we normally see in the Canada West," said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. "The chance to play against different hitters, different blocking, and a different defence is really valuable and I also think very motivating for our players."
 
The last meeting between UBC and Laval took place on March 6 in the final of the 2011 CIS Women's Volleyball Championship, hosted by the Rouge et Or.
 
The Thunderbirds swept aside Laval by set scores of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-14 to the school's fourth consecutive national championship.
 
The year before, UBC met Laval in the semifinal of the CIS tournament, and again beat the Quebec school in three sets.
 
Fans should expect another entertaining match on Thursday.
 
"To me, what's exciting is the style that Laval plays," said Reimer. "Incredible defence and super high energy in the gym, they play off that so that's always great for us to have to play against and it's great for the fans to see the energy and the commitment to defence they bring to the court."
 
Both teams are using this match to help prepare for the resumption of conference play.
 
UBC (9-1) will host Thompson Rivers next weekend before the Manitoba Bisons come to Vancouver on the weekend of Jan. 20-21.
 
"What we're looking at is probably two things," remarked Reimer about what he would like to see from his players in 2012. "One, as we get through the second half, is refining our roles, looking at different options tactically and, as well, increasing our consistency of play, consistency of execution in all aspects. As a player, that's their primary goal."