VANCOUVER – The No. 1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds have the opportunity to clinch top spot in the conference and a home playoff berth throughout the Canada West playoffs as they host the Brandon Bobcats this Friday and Saturday at War Memorial gym for the final matches of the 2023-24 regular season.
At 20-2 and riding a four-match win streak with just one loss in their last 12, the T-Birds need a single win over the Bobcats (1-21) to secure the conference’s top seed for the first time since 2014.
“We’re very pleased about starting the playoffs at home and hope to keep that advantage the rest of the way,” commented UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “I think it helps in so many ways. You avoid travel, get to be in the gym that you’re most comfortable with. That gets rid of at least one or two potential excuses!”
While the ‘Birds’ primary goal will certainly be to continue their dominant play of late which has seen the squad drop just one set in their last three matches, the defending national champions will also honour one of their biggest graduating classes in recent memory with seven T-Birds set to play in their final regular season series.
Erika Vermette, Nia Wager, and Gisella Goodger will all be feted Friday evening while Saturday’s regular season finale will feature a proper send off for Danielle Price, Victoria D’Acre, Kacey Jost and Claire Cossarini.
“It’s a big group, but each of them has definitely left their mark on the program in different ways,” reflected Reimer. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of them and seeing them develop, both within our volleyball program and also off-court as well. I always find these weekends pretty bittersweet, because we know we’re going to miss them both as players and people.”
While every year’s senior class maybe a bittersweet goodbye, the 2024 version is not only large in composition but also in impact. While the team lost several key members of last year’s U SPORTS championship squad, these seven seniors not only picked up the torch of leadership on and off the court but led the way to an outstanding campaign which has the ‘Birds eyeing up the possibility of yet another championship run.
But in order to secure that coveted home court advantage throughout the Canada West playoffs, the ‘Birds will need to take care of business as they face Brandon at War Memorial for the first time since February of 2020.
“We hope to sew up home court quickly so that we can focus on aspects that we need to reinforce for us to do well in what will hopefully be a long playoff run,” concluded Reimer. “We want to give people the opportunity to get some valuable court time, because we do have a lot of depth on our team.”
It’s safe to say this season hasn’t been overly kind to the Bobcats who head to Vancouver losers of seven straight as they prepare to go up against the top team in the country. But there’s also little doubt the visitors from Manitoba will be a highly motivated group to not only ensure they can finish the season ahead of the last place Regina Cougars, but also to play an upset role.
First serve for the penultimate match of the regular season is set for 6:00 p.m. at War Memorial Gym with Saturday’s regular season finale scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Tickets are available now and both will also be streamed live on Canada West TV.
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