VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (6-8) hit the road for the third straight series as they get set to face the Manitoba Bisons (2-14) and strive to bump a five-match slump. Game one goes Friday, January 17, at 4:00 p.m. PT with game two slated for Saturday, January 18, at 4:45 p.m. PT - both at the Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg.
UBC got a boost last weekend when they welcomed back two key veterans to their lineup in fourth-year setter Olivia Furlan and fifth-year middle Tessa Davis. The two made their presence felt in their first seven sets of action this season, and will continue to work their way back into form this weekend against the Bisons.
Manitoba has dropped ten straight matches and are currently tied for last in the Canada West, but boast one of the best blockers in the conference in Allison Alcock - who is second in the Canada West with 60 block assists and is third with an average 1.20 blocks per set.
Last Action
The 'Birds were swept by the MacEwan Griffins (11-5) in Edmonton, 3-0 and 3-1, in their first Canada West action in over a month. Furlan contributed 36 assists and seventeen kills in her return, while Davis had 11 kills and six digs over the weekend series. Gabrielle Attieh totalled 13 kills with 18 digs and Jayde Robertsen put up five service aces to go along with 9 kills and seven blocks.
The Bisons fell 3-0 and 3-0 to the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in Kamloops to extend their winless streak to ten. Alcock recorded six blocks and nine kills over six sets.
Coach's Take
"It's great to get [Olivia] and Tessa back with us as they provide experience, depth and are both great competitors," said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. "[Olivia] is still getting back to 100% from her ankle, and of course it takes some time for the group to get comfortable with different options; so that is a prime goal this week in training and on the weekend."
Reimer says his team needs to capitalize on their opportunities and minimize mistakes in order to get back into the win column.
"Manitoba is an athletic team with a mix of youth and veterans. They have skill and talent and are a lot better than their record, as they have been in many matches. We need to spend time preparing for them, but we also need to improve on our ability to come out and play free...plus be willing to compete hard for a long time. I think the squad that does the best job managing their errors should emerge with the win."
