The University of British Columbia Athletics

Vancouver, BC - This weekend, the No.1-ranked, 16-2 UBC women's volleyball team will host the 8-10 University of Saskatchewan Huskies at home at War Memorial Gymnasium. After battling through challenging games this past weekend against the Mount Royal Cougars, the Thunderbirds are looking for a chance to regain their rhythm as the playoffs quickly approach.
 
The weekend games will also serve as tribute to the team's seniors, honoring the commitment, drive, and heart they've contributed to UBC volleyball.
 
Head Couch Doug Reimer sees the weekend as an opportunity to build confidence before the playoffs begin: "I think our goal for the weekend is to play with more consistency and steadiness. Even though we've lost a couple of matches in the past few weeks, our best play, on the other nights, is good. We have to find that balance; we have to work on the weaknesses and show we are a strong team by building consistent momentum moving forward. To do that, we have to focus on tough serving and better defense. We've got to sketch and serve the ball well; we need to pass well enough that our offense can run with good speed and variety."
 
As the weekend will commemorate the seniors, Reimer relays the joys in seeing the players develop: "Consistently, that is one of the most rewarding parts of the job for me - to see young players develop, move forward, and become leaders. I think the older players lead by example through their confidence in lots of little ways. We want to celebrate our seniors, this weekend and recognize them with two good, clear wins. I would say that if we could find a way to have our offense score consistently when we are in and out of system, we will find our confidence moving forward."
 
So far this season, Lisa Barclay, Rosie Schlagintweit, and Kirsty Setterlund have served as a triple-threat, leading in almost all statistical categories; however, the team's ability to rotate any variety of players through the court and run an effective offense has served as a testament to the Thunderbirds' versatility and resilience.
 
Last weekend, Saskatchewan traveled to Alberta and split games against the University of Calgary Dinos. Over the course of this season, the Huskies have seen offensive leadership from Kayla Tycholiz, Candace Hueser, Emily Humbert, and Anne Hanbidge this season, whose combined efforts account for 569 of the team's 804 kills.
 
Games will be held at 6:00 pm Friday and 5:00 pm this Saturday at War Memorial Gymnasium.