VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds will make their first trip to a national championship in men's volleyball since 2007-08. A surge in the second half of the Canada West regular season saw UBC move all the way from unranked to the 3rd place ranking ahead of the tournament in Edmonton, Alberta.
 
UBC has drawn the Atlantic champions, New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the quarterfinal. First serve goes Friday at 7:00pm PT and the game is available on USPORTS.LIVE.
 
"This has been an incredible season of learning and growth for our team. We have played more five sets matches than any other Can West Team and I really feel that has helped us to refine our processes," says UBC head coach Kerry MacDonald. "For nationals, we will simply be looking to take this approach into the first match in what will surely be a battle against a strong UNB team."
 

OFFICIAL - M??: The field for the 2017 U SPORTS Fog Men's Volleyball Championship is set! Full seeding below. #CHAMPSZN pic.twitter.com/Jow19RnlMQ

— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) March 12, 2017

 

2016-17 regular season leaders:

 
Kills: 317 – Irvan Brar, Outside Hitter
Digs: 197 – Tyson Smith, Libero
Blocks: 86 – Joel Regehr, Middle
Aces: 42 – Byron Keturakis, Setter
Assists: 918 – Byron Keturakis, Setter
 

Team (playoff finish: regular season record / playoff record) 

1. Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West champions: 21-3 / 4-0)
2. Manitoba Bisons (Canada West finalists: 21-3 / 1-1)
3. UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West bronze: 16-8 / 3-1)
4. Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ champions: 15-2 / 2-1)
5. McMaster Marauders (OUA champions: 17-0 / 3-0)
6. UNB Varsity Reds (AUS Champions: 9-8 / 2-0)
7. Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West 4^th place/hosts: 20-4/ 2-2)
8. Waterloo Warriors (OUA finalists: 9-8 / 2-1)
 

.@ubcmvb move on to @USPORTSca championships as the #3 seed. They'll play #6 @VarsityReds on Thursday in Edmonton, Alberta. #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/HMGW9tcbJb

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) March 12, 2017

 

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times PT)

Thursday, March 16
7:00 a.m. 2017 U SPORTS Men's Volleyball All-Canadian Awards  
 
Friday, March 17
12:00 p.m. Quarter-final #1: No.1 Trinity Western vs. No. 8 Waterloo  (USPORTS.LIVE)
1:30 p.m. Quarter-final #2: No.4 Laval vs. No.5 McMaster (USPORTS.LIVE)
5:30 p.m. Quarter-final #3: No.2 Manitoba vs. No. 7 Alberta (USPORTS.LIVE)
7:00 p.m. Quarter-final #4: No.3 UBC vs No.6 UNB (USPORTS.LIVE)


 
Saturday, March 18
12:00 p.m. Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2 (USPORTS.LIVE)
1:30 p.m. Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (USPORTS.LIVE)
5:30 p.m. Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (USPORTS.LIVE)
7:00 p.m. Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (USPORTS.LIVE)
 
Sunday, March 19
11:00 a.m. 5^th place (USPORTS.LIVE)
2:00 p.m. Bronze medal (USPORTS.LIVE)
5:00 p.m. Championship final (USPORTS.LIVE)