VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds have a balanced line-up of players ready to challenge for the CIS championship in 2014-15.

In the preseason Canada West men's coaches' poll, UBC was rated third, tied in points with second-place Trinity Western.

But for head coach Richard Schick, a former national title-winning coach who is now entering his 12th season at UBC, the focus for his team is on taking the necessary steps for continued improvement.

"As much as we want to take that next step in the playoffs and hopefully to a national tournament and championship, there's a lot of work to do between now and then," said Schick. "Even though we are a fairly experienced group, we have a lot of growing and learning together to go together this year. I think this is going to be the biggest growth year for us as a group."

The T-Birds finished 15-7 for the second consecutive year last season. That was good enough for second place in the Canada West regular season standings but the team lost two heartbreaking five-set matches to defending league champions Brandon in the quarterfinals.

UBC led the conference in assists and kills; the team was also second in digs and hitting percentage.

"Last year, we were at or near the top of a lot of statistical categories and we want to maintain our play in those parts of the game but we want to improve in the ones that we have to, which is block defence and we want to serve more aggressively," said Schick. "We want to be one of the most aggressive teams in the league but at the same time, have that aggression be controlled."

All but four players from last year's squad are back, including five of six starters. Chris Howe, Ian Perry and Quentin Schmidt are entering their fifth and final season of eligibility.

"As much as we have the usual suspects back, we have a few players in different positions," said Schick. "It's been neat to see because I think we're a different a team, and we're obviously hoping and preparing that's for the better."

Jarrid Ireland, who didn't play in the regular season last year because of injury, is healthy for the current season and has moved to the left side from his previous role on the right; with his versatility, expect him on the floor no matter where he plays. Mac McNicol is switching to the right side and is projected to start at the position.

First Team All-Canadian Ben Chow, a left side player who was sixth in the league in kills (3.74) and points per set (4.23), will be one of the focal points of the UBC attack.

Schmidt was second on the team in kills and was just one of two T-Birds to play in all 24 regular season and playoff matches last year.

He'll be pushed by players like Ireland, Irvan Brar and Will Dichuk, who are competing for a starting spot.

Rounding out the outside hitter ranks are second-year player Mat Guidi, rookie recruits Jacob Smith and Nick Hughes and transfer Jack Newman.

Smith was rated the fifth-best graduating high school player in B.C. last season. Newman previously played at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, B.C.

Down the middle, UBC is again solid with Alex Russell and Chris Howe, who were second and 10th in hitting percentage in the Canada West, respectively. Joel Regehr was named to Canada's Junior National Team this past summer. Connor MacCuspie joined the team as a new recruit.

Ian Perry is the team's libero while Second Team All-Canadian Milan Nikic will handle the setting duties. Nikic will also serve as mentor to new recruit Byron Keturakis, a fiery 6-foot-7 competitor who was named the best setter among B.C.'s 2014 class of graduating high school players.

"We're getting contributions from a lot of guys with a lot of different experiences, which has been neat to see," said Schick, whose team will begin the regular season in Edmonton this weekend against the MacEwan University Griffins. Friday's game will be played at 7 p.m. PT, while Saturday's first serve will come at 6 p.m.

The team's first home series will take place Oct. 17-18 against the Mt. Royal University Cougars at War Memorial Gym.