VANCOUVER – War Memorial Gym will be a hotbed of activity this weekend as two of the top volleyball programs in Canada West go head-to-head in a weekend double-header. Mike Hawkins' crew will look to stay in the top echelon of the standings when the 'Birds (6-2) host the top ranked team in U SPORTS, the Alberta Golden Bears (5-1) beginning Friday night at 7:45 pm, then wrapping up Saturday at 6:45 pm.
 
UBC heads into the weekend removed from a 1-1 trip out East that saw them split with the University of Manitoba. After a tough 3-0 loss Friday, the blue and gold responded with a 3-0 victory on the Saturday.
 
"It's been an interesting start to the season for us," stated Mike Hawkins whose club is entering its third home weekend of the 2022-23 season. "We've been bit by the injury bug early, so we've had to thrust younger guys into positions that they maybe weren't expecting. Some first-year players have had a lot of playing time and occupied significant roles. As much as it's been a challenge, it's also been a benefit. In the long run it puts us in a better spot."
 
One player that Mike Hawkins has relied upon heavily through eight games is fourth-year star Matt Neaves who enters the weekend ranked first in Canada West with 186.5 points – 38.5 points clear of Alberta's Jordan Canham. Neaves also leads Canada West with 148 kills and second with 26 service aces.


 
"In my opinion Matt Neaves is the best player in the country," added Hawkins. "He's the most physically dominant player with his size, but it's also the leadership that he brings. Not only is he physically gifted but he ties that in with great decision making and leadership skills. His biggest impact for us this year has been his leadership."
 
This weekend will mark the toughest challenge to date (so far) for the 'Birds who are facing the defending national champs from Alberta who enter the weekend 5-1 and are ranked #1 in the U SPORTS Top-10 rankings. Mike Hawkins' troops are looking forward to the opportunity and challenge that the weekend holds for them. "These are the games that you have to perform at your best. We believe that we are a top team in the country and Alberta has been in that tier for quite some time. We know them well and our objective is to continue asserting our style of play and our strengths. We're confident in our ability to come away with wins this weekend."
 
Friday night's clash with Alberta will also double as Pride Night – The most highly anticipated night on the (regular season) calendar for coaches, players, and fans alike. For Pride Night, UBC is partnering again with the UBC Pride Collective (https://www.prideubc.com/) and will be fundraising to support QMunity. QMunity (https://qmunity.ca/) is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. UBC is also proud and grateful to once again partner with Lululemon for Pride Night. All fans are encouraged to dress up for the occasion and to bring the noise in support of the teams and to show support for LGBTQIA2S+ pride. 



"It's such a unique opportunity for us to put a spotlight on the Pride community and celebrate our diverse and inclusive population," concluded Hawkins. "We preach within our team to be inclusive and positive, and we're thrilled to be a conduit to the rest of our community and contribute to a cause that is so powerful and positive."

Tickets for both nights can be purchased HERE. You can also catch the action live on Canada West TV.