A winless road record needs to change in a hurry for the Brandon University men’s volleyball team.
The Bobcats are in Calgary for their final two regular season matches and sit in a four-way tie for the seventh and final playoff spot in Canada West at 9-11.
"It’s a very tall order, they’re a great team, they get great fan support and they’re playing well. They’ve beat the top teams in the country, so we know they’re extremely dangerous," coach Grant Wilson told CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston. "With all that said, we still like our group and we feel if we go in there and play our game and play the way we have the last few times we’ve stepped on the floor, we’ll give ourselves a really good chance."
"We’re playing some of the best volleyball we’ve played all season and that’s the time to be doing it, is the end. The second-half is where it all begins and matters. For us the playoffs start this weekend and we’re going to come out firing," said setter David Stasica.
Brendan White and Roy Ching will be game-time decisions for the defending conference champions with ankle injuries.
White was sidelined last weekend against the Trinity Western Spartans while Ching was hurt during practice on Wednesday.
On the women’s side, the Lady ‘Cats are 15-5 and have already secured a playoff spot and home court advantage in the first round next week.
Meanwhile, the playoff pursuit is over for the BU men’s basketball team, but they won’t let that put a damper on senior’s weekend at the Healthy Living Centre.
Fifth-year players Jordan Reaves, Isaiah James, Emerick Ravier and James Elias are playing their final home games against the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
"I think we have the pieces on paper, it just never quite came around in regards to wins," said coach Gil Cheung. "I guarantee you these guys will play hard in front of their hometown crowd. They’re a little down, they know that our season comes to an end in two weeks, but I have no doubt in my mind that the effort will be there, the mental focus will be there."
"It definitely hit us hard for a couple of days. We were all moody for a while, but we realized we’re losing four guys this year. Let’s have fun for the time we’ve got left together," said Reaves. "Five years here without seeing playoffs is tough. We just got to keep our heads up and just not give up on Gil. He’s never given up on us, so we’re not going to give up on him for these last four games, even though we’re not playing for a playoff spot and we’re just playing for pride."
The BU basketball teams have records of 5-13 on the season.
Game times at the HLC are 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday.
