10/3/2012 5:53:00 PM
VANCOUVER – International volleyball action will return to War Memorial Gymnasium, as the UBC Thunderbirds men’s team is set to face their counterparts from Fudan University of Shanghai, China.
The teams will play two matches on the UBC campus. The first will take place on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. The second game will be on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Both games are at War Memorial Gymnasium.
“We feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to host Fudan University from China,” said UBC head coach Richard Schick.
“Being able to play teams from other countries allows our athletes to not only experience another culture but also another style of training and playing, which is often different from the way we do things here at home.”
UBC is preparing for the upcoming 2012-13 Canada West regular season, which starts on Friday, Oct. 26.
The team features Ben Chow (Surrey, BC), who finished fifth at the 2012 FIVB Beach Volleyball Junior World Championships in Halifax, N.S.
Three members of Canada’s Junior Men’s National Team are also on the UBC roster. They are Milan Nikic (Calgary, AB), Jarrid Ireland (Winnipeg, MB) and Alex Russell (Surrey, BC).
Nikic captained Canada to a silver medal at the NORCECA Men’s Junior Continental Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Russell was named the tournament’s best blocker.
Fudan brings an experienced roster to Canada. The team competes in the Chinese Volleyball League and Fudan players made up most of the China squad that played in front of home crowds last year at the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzen. The team finished 19th at the event.
“We expect a high level of competition from the Fudan team as this will not be their first taste of international competition having represented China previously at the 2011 Summer Universiade,” said Schick. “We look forward to 10 days of training, playing and getting to know one other, both on and off the court.”
Fudan will also play a match against UBC Okanagan on Thursday, Oct. 4 at War Memorial Gymnasium.
Fans can buy tickets for the games at War Memorial Gymnasium an hour before the first serve. For group sales, call 604-822-3094 or email tickets@gothunderbirds.ca.
UBC and Fudan are members of Universitas 21, a prestigious group of leading research institutions around the world.
This Fudan tour is part of UBC’s commitment to providing international opportunities for its students with schools in all parts of the world.