VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds women's volleyball team (11-3), ranked ninth in the CIS' latest national rankings, will set out on the road this weekend, looking to right the ship as they face the Alberta Pandas (13-3), ranked third, in a two-game series at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
The first game's opening whistle is set for 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, January 22nd, while the second contest is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. (PT) start on Saturday, January 23rd.
The Thunderbirds' resiliency will be put to the test against Alberta, as the team was left reeling in the wake of last weekend's homestand against the Brandon Bobcats, in which they dropped 3-1 and 3-0 decisions against the Manitoban visitors.
Coming off a month-and-a-half-long break, and without the full services of veterans
Danielle Brisebois (Bolton, Ont.) and
Juliana Kaufmanis (Richmond, B.C.), the 'Birds were in tough from the get-go against a spirited Brandon side.
However, even in the losses, there were bright spots for the Blue and Gold – for instance, the play of sophomore outside hitters
Victoria Behie (Nanaimo, B.C.) and
Laura MacTaggart (Lacombe, Alta.). In Friday's game, Behie was electrifying, leading the club with a career-high 14 kills, nearly triple her total for the season up to that game. MacTaggart, on the other hand, showed her potential as a two-way force a well-rounded weekend, finishing both games with a combined 21 kills, four aces, and four blocks.
Like the 'Birds, the Pandas largely successful season got sidetracked a bit last weekend, as they dropped both of their games against the No.1-ranked UBC Okanagan Heat, falling 3-1 and 3-2.
Despite the recent setback against top-ranked team in the country, Alberta still boasts as dangerous a lineup as there is in Canada West, particularly when it comes to top-end talent. In outside hitter Meg Cassault, Alberta possesses one of the most explosive attackers in the conference, as the fourth-year Edmonton native sits second in Canada West in kills, with 228, and points, with 260. With Cassault at the forefront, Alberta sits fourth in the conference in scoring offense, averaging 16.7 points-per-set.
Maybe more impressive than their offensive acumen, the Pandas make up what is maybe the most tireless defence in the country. Alberta paces Canada West in digs and digs-per-set, at 858 and 14.54, respectively. In fact, the Pandas are the only team in Canada West with two players who rank among the top-10 in digs-per-set, as libero Jessie Niles (second, 3.64) and Cassault (10th, 2.98) both made the list.
