VANCOUVER – The No. 6-ranked UBC Thunderbirds men's volleyball team is looking to rebound from a pair of losses last weekend, as they get ready to face the No. 10 Mt. Royal Cougars Friday and Saturday in Calgary.
 
The teams will face off on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m. PT at MRU's Kenyon Court.
 
UBC fell 3-1 and 3-0 to the Winnipeg Wesmen last weekend in the Manitoba capital. The Thunderbirds won the first set on Friday but dropped the next six to fall to 4-4.
 
Middle Alex Russell (Surrey, B.C.) ranks first in the Canada West with 1.39 blocks per set.

Outside hitter Mac McNicol (Calgary) leads the UBC roster with 4.0 points and 3.33 kills per set, which is 13th in the Canada West in both categories. Teammate Irvan Brar (Surrey, B.C.), averaging 3.7 points and 3.0 kills per set – is 17th in both categories.
 
Second-year setter Byron Keturakis (Surrey, B.C.) leads UBC in assists (8.44) and digs (2.08) per set.
 
The Cougars are in the midst of their toughest portion of the schedule. In the span of five weeks they match up against four nationally ranked teams. Despite their struggles, they are still ranked No. 10 in the nation with a record of 4-4. They are getting lots of production from their top players this season, as Tyler Schmidt (3.7), Andrew McWilliam (3.5) and Jordan Parkin (3.4) are all averaging over 3.0 points per set.

The Cougars are second in the Canada West with 1.54 service aces per set.

UBC has won five of six all-time Canada West conference matches against MRU.
 
- with files from Mt. Royal Sports Information