WVB Final Preview: MAN at UBC

Article by Brian Swane, special to CW

March 7, 2024 - Back in January, the UBC Thunderbirds hosted the Manitoba Bisons for a pair of women’s volleyball matches in Vancouver.

The reigning national champion T-Birds were ranked No. 1 in U SPORTS, sat atop the Canada West standings, and hadn’t lost all season on their home court in War Memorial Gym. Manitoba was ranked fourth nationally, and sat second in the conference standings.

UBC won the first game, but the next night Manitoba rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Thunderbirds in five sets. It was a statement victory for the upstart Bisons, proving they belong with the best. And it was the only home loss this season for the Thunderbirds, who set about proving they’re the best.

The Thunderbirds have since won 10 straight matches, dropping only four sets in the process. The Bisons have lost just one of its last 10 matches.

They’re the two hottest teams in the land, and have been on a collision course that’s about to intersect back at War Memorial Gym, where UBC and Manitoba will square off for the 2024 Canada West women’s volleyball championship, Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.

Catch all the action live and on-demand at CanadaWest.TV.

With this being the teams’ rubber match of 2024, it’s fitting the championship is one night, one match, winner take all.

Not since 2018 has a team besides the Trinity Western Spartans hoisted the Women’s Intervarsity Volleyball Trophy. TWU had its remarkable run of four straight conference titles end with a loss to the Alberta Pandas in the quarterfinal round.

The last time UBC won Canada West gold was the last time Manitoba reached the conference final. That was in 2014, when the Thunderbirds defeated the Bisons in the Canada West final before Manitoba beat UBC at the national championships en route to winning the U SPORTS title.

During last year’s Canada West playoffs, the Bisons eliminated UBC in the quarterfinal round. But then the Thunderbirds knocked off Manitoba in the national semi-finals on their road to U SPORTS gold.

Both Manitoba and UBC have clinched a berth in the 2024 U SPORTS women’s volleyball championship, taking place at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. from March 15 to 17.

The Bisons and Thunderbirds will be joined at nationals by the winner of the Canada West bronze medal match between the UFV Cascades and Alberta, taking place at 6 p.m. PT on Friday in Abbotsford. The bronze medal match will be streamed live and on-demand at CanadaWest.TV.

UBC Thunderbirds

(22-2 regular season, 4-0 playoffs)

How They Got Here: First in standings; defeated Thompson Rivers 2-0 in quarter-final, defeated Alberta 2-0 in semifinal.

Key Player: Third-year outside hitter Lucy Borowski was recognized as a Canada West First Team All-Star after leading her team in total attacks (574), kills (238), kills per set (2.90), points (313.5), and points per set (3.8).

Fun Fact: UBC has enjoyed great attendance figures throughout the regular season, and drew over 1,000 fans to War Memorial Coliseum for its semifinal matches with Alberta last weekend.

Manitoba Bisons (20-4 regular season, 4-0 playoffs)

How They Got Here: Second in standings; defeated UBC Okanagan 2-0 in quarter-final, defeated UFV 2-0 in semifinal.

Key Player: Second-year left side Raya Surinx followed up on winning 2023 Canada West Rookie of the Year by leading the conference this season in total attacks (881), kills (388), kills per set (4.85), points (449.0) and points per set (5.6).

Fun Fact: Going back to the 2023 Canada West playoffs, Manitoba is the only visitor to have won at War Memorial Coliseum, going 3-1 while all other teams are 0-14 combined.