VANCOUVER - The No. 4 UBC Thunderbirds (11-3) will take their ten-match win streak on the road to face the Manitoba Bisons (7-7) at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, January 17, at 5:45 p.m. PT and Saturday, January 18, at 3:00 p.m. PT.
UBC's U SPORTS ranking increased by one place nationally as the T-Birds are now tied for second in the Canada West with the No. 3 Brandon Bobcats (11-3) at 22 points apiece. The 'Birds' ten consecutive win mark is the second longest streak in the conference - the No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans are on a twelve-match tear of their own.
The last time the Thunderbirds faced the Bisons they split the series in War Memorial Gym, but this season sees a much different T-Bird squad who boast the most kills per set in the Canada West (12.51) with the second highest hitting percentage (.325) and most service aces per set (2.43) entering into the weekend series.
Manitoba's Kevin Negus currently leads the Canada West with an average 4.21 kills per set, 5.0 points per set and 520 total attacks.
Last Action
UBC swept their two-game set with the MacEwan Griffins (2-12), 3-0 and 3-0, last weekend in Edmonton thanks in large part to an efficient, balanced attack (.529 hitting percentage on night one and .455 hitting percentage on night two) and 13 total service aces over six sets.
The Bisons split their series with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in Kamloops - winning 3-1 before dropping a five-set decision the next night.
Coach's Take
UBC head coach Mike Hawkins notes the benefits of playing in the elite Canada West - a conference that currently includes three of the top five teams in the country.
"Not only do we play difficult teams week in and week out, which better prepares our teams for U SPORTS National Championships, but it also allows our athletes to develop at a greater rate than anywhere else in the country," said Hawkins. "This is evident by the number of athletes on our Senior National Team that competed in the Canada West, and at the CanAm showcase (where Canadian and NCAA teams went head to head) when Canada West finished with a 5-1 record against those NCAA schools, where the East only went 1-5.
"I think we're seeing athletes like Michael Dowhaniuk and Matt Neaves, who already have experience on the Junior National Team, continually improving at an incredible rate in our program. I believe it's as much a testament to the quality of their teammates that they train against everyday as it is their own individual talents that has allowed them and others to develop so well."
An example of the strength of competition this season is a Bisons squad who have statistically been playing better than their 7-7 record indicates.
"Manitoba is a tough team and has shown that all season," said Hawkins. "Given they are the only team in the country who has already secured their ticket to U SPORTS Nationals (since they're hosting), Coach Pischke is afforded the luxury to tinker with lineups to find the best combination possible. We know they have a number of lineups that can do some damage, so we must prepare to play at our best to come away with wins this weekend."
