The Matchup

 
This weekend will be instrumental to Canada West playoff positioning, as the 13-3 UBC Thunderbirds visit the 13-3 Calgary Dinos on Friday at 5:00 PM (PST) and Saturday at 3:00 PM (PST).

While UBC maintained their number four ranking in U Sports, Calgary went up a spot to the sixth seed coming into the contest. The Thunderbirds are holding on to third place in the Canada West while the Dinos are hot on their tails in fourth.

Last Action

A dynamic roster continues to power UBC toward the Canada West post-season, as they recently swept a home series with the Mt. Royal Cougars last weekend (3-1, 3-0) – dropping only a single set and adding two more victories to their eight-game winning streak.


 
Calgary's potent offense and stifling blocking has lead to a five-game winning streak, but last weekend the Manitoba Bisons proved to be a tough test. The Dinos won in five sets (3-2) over the Bisons on night one before blanking Manitoba 3-0 to close out the series.
 

By the Numbers

4 – the number of sets the Thunderbirds have lost in 29 sets played. 
 
169 – the Dinos are the top blocking team in the league with 169 total blocks, 2.67 blocks per set and 283 block assists. Meanwhile, their offense boasts the second most kills in U Sports with 742.
 

Players To Watch

 
Danielle Brisebois – (#12, Outside Hitter) – the Thunderbird captain and Canadian Senior National Team member is making the most of her final year at UBC as a dangerous attacker in U Sports. Brisebois' team-high 205 kills are good for 6th in the league and her average of 3.73 kills per set are 10th overall.


 
Ciara Hanly – (#9, Middle Blocker) – the third-year blocker is has totalled 50 blocks so far this season with 48 kills and 13 service aces. 

Coach's Take

"We're looking forward to a tough but exciting weekend with potentially important ramifications in the standings," says UBC Head Coach Doug Reimer. "I think the key for our team is to continue to build on the execution that we've shown most of the time since Christmas. It'll be a great challenge on the road against a good team, so we need to we keep our focus on the key aspects of the game plan and play with intensity."