With two national championships in the past three years, it would be easy for UBC Thunderbirds women's volleyball to enter the new season feeling satisfied with the status quo. However, that's simply not how this program operates.

Under 11-time national champion head coach Doug Reimer, complacency is never an option. The program has thrived under Reimer by taking a long-term view on player development and instilling a dogged determination to strive for self-improvement in its athletes.



In a 2024-25 season filled with adversity around player turnover and unfortunate injuries, the T-Birds still managed to put together a 15-5 record and reach the Bronze Medal Match of the U SPORTS Championships.

Bolstered by six new additions to the roster, and time for the team's banged up athletes to heal, Reimer, ever cautious about inflating expectations, says he feels good about where his team is at as they enter the new Canada West campaign.

"We have been training well as a group," noted the five-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year. "I'm really happy with our quality returning players bringing great court experience, along with some very nice new additions to our group."

The T-Birds start their season on Friday, hosting the Brandon Bobcats on back-to-back days at War Memorial Gym. The home opener is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PT).

That could be the debut for multiple new players, including MacEwan transfer Bronwyn Ettinger, a third-year libero who spent last season as a red shirt with the program. Outside hitter Aimee Skinner, who transferred from Vancouver Island University after winning PacWest Player of the Year, could also prove to be a fascinating x-factor for a team that likes to flex its depth.

Yet, if the T-Birds are to add to their trophy case this season, it will likely be on the shoulders of two uber-talented outside hitters, both entering their fifth and final seasons; multi-time Canada West All-Stars Lucy Borowski and Akash Grewal.
 

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"It was uncertain whether or not we were going to have Lucy and Akash back for their fifth years, and we're thrilled that we do have them for one more season," reflected Reimer.

"With Lucy, you can see the development that's occurred around multiple aspects of her game through training with the national team over the summer. For Akash, she's worked back from some injuries and is rounding into form nicely."

Borowski is coming off of back-to-back seasons as a U SPORTS All-Canadian. Grewal has posted consecutive seasons that rank top-eight in aces, all-time, in Canada West. Should Grewal come close to replicating that output, she will finish her career with the most aces in conference history, as she currently sits 47 back of the all-time mark.

"If I was playing against us, I would be concerned when I see both of them on the court," added Reimer. "They're both pretty complete all-around players, who can contribute a lot."

UBC's first opponent, the Brandon Bobcats, are coming off of a 2-18 season. Despite the poor record, one of Brandon's wins was over a 17-3 UFV Cascades team that split its games against the T-Birds at War Memorial Gym last season.

"For the first part of the season, we need to focus on our level of execution more than worrying about specific opponents," mused Reimer. "Volleyball is a recovery sport. There will be errors, there will be mistakes, the question is whether we can recover better than our opponent."

In a ceremony before the season opener, the team will be handing out the Amanjit Pare Memorial Scholarship. Amanjit was the student manager of the UBC women's volleyball team in the late 1970s. Lauded for her passion and enthusiasm for Thunderbirds volleyball, she is celebrated as a natural facilitator and credited with helping the program get to where it is today.



"The award is funded by a stellar group of alumni, that in my opinion, is the absolute model for what you would hope for in a team staying together," praised Reimer. "They continue to support each other and meet on a regular basis. Amanjit was the glue that kept this group together and they have continued to support our program, and each other, in her memory."

The T-Birds' season opener is set to start at 7:30pm on Friday, October 17^th, as the second half of a doubleheader after the schools' men's teams play. Game two of the series is at 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday October 18^th, both at War Memorial Gym.

Tickets can be purchased here. Stream all of the action, live or on demand, on Canada West TV, powered by BioSteel.