‘Birds Begin 2023 With a Crucial Home Showdown vs. Saskatchewan

VANCOUVER – 2023 is now upon us, and this weekend the UBC Thunderbirds (7-5) return to the friendly confines of War Memorial Gym for a challenging double-header weekend against the University of Saskatchewan (8-4). The blue and gold kick off the second-half of their Canada West season against a foe that is currently neck-and-neck with them in the standings.
 
“All clichés aside, we’re human. We look at standings. We know it’s an important weekend that will have some bearing on how things are going to play out for playoff seeding,” said head coach Mike Hawkins. Saskatchewan enters the weekend ranked fourth in the Canada West standings while UBC sits fifth. The top eight schools qualify for Canada West playoffs.
 
Beginning tomorrow, the blue and gold are taking the floor for their first regular season action since late November (25^th and 26^th) – A weekend where they split a double-header with their rivals from Trinity Western University. Despite the split, the UBC Thunderbirds head coach took numerous positives away from that weekend, and hopes that they’ll remain front of mind this weekend when they clash with the Huskies.

 
“We went into that weekend [with Trinity Western] feeling really good about the volleyball we were playing,” added Hawkins. “Our team showed that they could play at the highest level when the pressure was at its highest. We know that we’re a tough team to beat and we left that weekend with the confidence that we are one of the top teams in Canada.”
 
A major key for UBC this weekend will be to try to limit Huskie star Dylan Mortenson’s effectiveness. The fifth-year outside hitter from Swift Current, SK enters the weekend ranked third in Canada Weset scoring with 229.5 points – Two slots back of UBC opposite Matt Neaves who leads Canada West with 272 points. Neaves did sustain a lower body injury back on November 26^th in Langley against Trinity Western and is listed as ‘day-to-day.’ His status for this weekend is up in the air.
 
“Dylan Mortenson is the ‘heartbeat’ of his team and one of the most prolific scorers in the country,” concludes Hawkins who has coached Mortenson at the national level. “Our two teams are very similar in that there’s plenty of talent on the floor, but both teams go with the flow with how their big opposites are playing. We’re looking forward to the challenge of facing the Huskies at home this weekend.”

 
The weekend begins Friday at War Memorial Gym with a 7:45 pm showdown, followed by a 6:45 battle Saturday. Tickets for both nights can be purchased HERE. You can also catch the action live on Canada West TV.
 
Footnote:
 
The UBC Thunderbirds men’s volleyball program would like to recognize and thank their alumni and supporters who helped fund a recent trip to Northern California. Check out the UBC Men’s Volleyball Instagram page for a glimpse of what the trip entailed.