The Matchup

UBC is off to Manitoba to take on a powerful Bisons squad in Winnipeg on Friday at 4 p.m. PT and Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. PT after sweeping UBC Okanagan at home last weekend.

The Bisons are winners of 10 straight and sit atop the Canada West with an 11-1 record, while the 8-4 'Birds have picked up four straight victories and are nestled in at third in the division. UBC and Manitoba will renew acquaintances for the first time since the T-Bird home opener a year ago, when the 'Birds pushed the Bisons to five tight sets but ultimately fell in the final set 15-13 before getting shutout 3-0 to close out the series.

Last Action

UBC Okanagan proved to be a tough test for the Thunderbirds and fought back from a two-set deficit in their first meeting to force a fifth. After taking Game 1 in five, UBC settled in and won 3-0 over the Heat on night two of the double header to kickoff 2017.
 
Manitoba is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Canada West playoffs last season, narrowly missing out on a berth to the national championships, and have built up momentum in 2016. Since losing to Mount Royal in October, the Bisons have only lost five sets in during their 10-game winning streak and host the Thunderbirds following a 3-0, 3-0 sweep of the Winnipeg Wesmen.
 

By the Numbers

83 – the T-Birds' team-high number of digs by setter Byron Keturakis, who also leads in service aces with 23.
 
54 – the U Sports highest total number of solo blocks by the Bisons on the season, a whopping 14 more than the second-place team.
 

Players to Watch

Byron Keturakis – (#1, Setter) – the star setter is tops on the 'Birds roster in both offensive and defensive categories in sits just outside the top 10 assist leader in the league with 9.37 assists per set. 
 


Mat Guidi – (#14, Outside Hitter) – Guidi leads the UBC offence with 126 kills, averaging 2.74 kills per set, and is tied with Joel Regehr for second most service aces with 10.
 

Coach's Take

"Manitoba is a top team with many fourth- and fifth-year veterans, so it will be a challenging weekend." says UBC head coach Kerry MacDonald. "That said, I feel we have played our best volleyball this year when being pushed and challenged by good teams and expect this weekend to be the same.  This is a another great opportunity for us to keep improving"