Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – The experience Brad Poplawski's young players got with time on the court against Saskatchewan last weekend will eventually prove invaluable.

Even if it wasn't perfect.

"I hope so," said the head coach of the MacEwan men's volleyball team. "We talked about what we maybe didn't do at times last week and some things we can do. We're trying to get them to problem solve, so when you're faced with a big serve and big block, what are our responses to that? Can we problem solve our way out of it and find ways? If we can't find a way, can we make one? That's the challenge."

It remains the team's challenge as the 0-4 squad heads west this weekend for a road trip to UBC (3-1) for Canada West matches on Friday (8:45 p.m. MT) and Saturday (7:45 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).

"They have one of the best opposites in the country in Matthew Neaves," said Poplawski. "I coached him at the Canada Games in 2017, so I know his level well. He's 6-9 with a big arm. I think he hit 70 balls in their five-set match against Brandon (on Oct. 28) and had 37 kills. He obviously plays at a high level."

The Thunderbirds have other attackers as well, rotating a strong group on the left side, so the Griffins are going to need to bring their 'A' game to have a chance. 

Poplawski, though, would love to see his team set the standard in a match, rather than playing defence against their opponents.

"I'd like to see us not just keep taking punches but try to inflict some of our own – run speed offence, serve tough ourselves," he said. "It might be a different velocity, but we can still serve tough and take them out of system. 

"Teams are too comfortable playing us right now. I think we have to do things to make them more uncomfortable. We've talked about it and addressed it and hopefully we can start applying some of that this weekend."