The Matchup
The UBC Thunderbirds (20-4) enter the Canada West quarterfinals as one of the hottest teams in the nation, winners of 15 of their last 16 matches. The 'Birds have earned the right to host the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (13-11) in Canada West quarterfinals action at War Memorial Gym.
The best-of-three series begins Friday, March 3 at 6pm, followed by game two at 5pm on Saturday. The Saturday evening game will be broadcast throughout Metro Vancouver live on Shaw Television.
Game three, if necessary, will go Sunday afternoon at 2pm.
The match-up is an interesting one, as the two teams split their two game series in mid-November in Kamloops. The first match was a three-set sweep by the Wolfpack, followed by a three-set sweep by the 'Birds the next evening.
Last Action
UBC has been a juggernaut since getting swept at home by Trinity Western in late November. Since those losses, UBC has rattled of winning streaks of nine and six games, including a massive home sweep of the Alberta Pandas, who were ranked number one in the nation at the time.
The 'Birds ended the season with two convincing wins over the Brandon Bobcats and have moved all the way to number two in the U Sports national rankings.
The Wolfpack are limping into the playoffs, having lost three of their last four. But make no mistake, this is a very dangerous team for the 'Birds. The Wolfpack always travel with a contingent of noisy, loyal fans and boast reigning U Sports player of the year, Iuliia Pakhomenko. Pakhomenko is an offensive dynamo, who lead Canada West in kills (381) and kills per set (4.65).
By the Numbers
239 – the number of aces the 'birds dropped on their opponents this season, by far the most in the nation. UBC needs to hold serve and rack up those quick easy points.
226 – the number of blocks the 'Birds put up this season. Again, good enough for tops in the country. The emergence of middle blocker
Maggie Li has established UBC's net presence. The Li versus Pakhomenko match-up at the net is sure to draw fireworks.
Players To Watch
Olivia Furlan – the first-year setter caught fire in the latter part of 2016-17. Couple with 'Birds stalwart Allesandra Gentile, UBC has arguably the most dynamic setting combination in Canada West.
Danielle Brisebois – the lynchpin of UBC's attack, Brisebois will be looking to leave her mark on the playoffs in her fifth and final year wearing the 'Blue and Gold'.
Quotable
"I think we're prepared for a really good battle," says UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "I think sometime the natural thing can be to focus on Iuliia Pakhomenko, because she is the hub of their offence. But having watched Thompson Rivers over the last couple seasons, they've really grown as a group with lots of consistency and more overall weapons."
