‘Birds Energized For A Weekend Showdown With the Defending Nationwide Champs
VANCOUVER – Battle Memorial Fitness center might be a hotbed of exercise this weekend as two of the highest volleyball applications in Canada West go head-to-head in a weekend double-header. Mike Hawkins‘ crew will look to remain within the high echelon of the standings when the ‘Birds (6-2) host the highest ranked workforce in U SPORTS, the Alberta Golden Bears (5-1) starting Friday evening at 7:45 pm, then wrapping up Saturday at 6:45 pm.
UBC heads into the weekend faraway from a 1-1 journey out East that noticed them break up with the College of Manitoba. After a troublesome 3-0 loss Friday, the blue and gold responded with a 3-0 victory on the Saturday.
“It has been an fascinating begin to the season for us,” acknowledged Mike Hawkins whose membership is coming into its third residence weekend of the 2022-23 season. “We have been bit by the harm bug early, so we have needed to thrust youthful guys into positions that they perhaps weren’t anticipating. Some first-year gamers have had a number of enjoying time and occupied vital roles. As a lot as it has been a problem, it is also been a profit. In the long term it places us in a greater spot.”
One participant that Mike Hawkins has relied upon closely by means of eight video games is fourth-year star Matt Neaves who enters the weekend ranked first in Canada West with 186.5 factors – 38.5 factors away from Alberta’s Jordan Canham. Neaves additionally leads Canada West with 148 kills and second with 26 service aces.
“For my part Matt Neaves is the very best participant within the nation,” added Hawkins. “He is probably the most bodily dominant participant along with his measurement, nevertheless it’s additionally the management that he brings. Not solely is he bodily gifted however he ties that in with nice choice making and management expertise. His largest impression for us this 12 months has been his management.”
This weekend will mark the hardest problem so far (to this point) for the ‘Birds who’re going through the defending nationwide champs from Alberta who enter the weekend 5-1 and are ranked #1 within the U SPORTS High-10 rankings. Mike Hawkins‘ troops are wanting ahead to the chance and problem that the weekend holds for them. “These are the video games that you must carry out at your greatest. We consider that we’re a high workforce within the nation and Alberta has been in that tier for fairly a while. We all know them properly and our goal is to proceed asserting our fashion of play and our strengths. We’re assured in our potential to return away with wins this weekend.”
Friday evening’s conflict with Alberta may also double as Satisfaction Night time – Essentially the most extremely anticipated evening on the (common season) calendar for coaches, gamers, and followers alike. For this annual occasion, UBC is partnering once more with the Vancouver Homosexual Volleyball Affiliation and Lululemon. All followers are inspired to decorate up for the event and to deliver the noise in help of the groups and to indicate help for LGBTQIA2S+ pleasure.
“It is such a novel alternative for us to place a highlight on the Satisfaction neighborhood and rejoice our various and inclusive inhabitants,” concluded Hawkins. “We preach inside our workforce to be inclusive and optimistic, and we’re thrilled to be a conduit to the remainder of our neighborhood and contribute to a trigger that’s so highly effective and optimistic.”
Tickets for each nights may be bought HERE. It’s also possible to catch the motion reside on Canada West TV.
