It was a storybook ending to Juliana Kaufmanis’ university volleyball career and she returned from the other end of the world to do it.
The 6-foot left-side hitter went out in grand style last weekend in Toronto as the UBC Thunderbirds captured their first national championship since 2013 with a four-set win over Canada West rival Alberta.
Kaufmanis was welcomed back to the UBC line-up in early January after the forestry major spent a semester at the University of Canterbury studying eco systems on the New Zealand coast. She promptly resumed her prominent role on a veteran team that included her graduating roommate — nationals’ MVP Danielle Brisebois — and fourth-year Maggie Li.
The final culminated a terrific year-long rivalry between the tournament’s No. 1 and No. 3 seeds. UBC swept the regular season series but the top ranked Pandas responded by winning the Canada West final.
UBC opened the nationals at Ryerson University with a four-set win against No. 6 Western, then produced a straight set victory over Trinity Western in an all-B.C. semi-final match-up. That set the stage for the final chapter against Alberta and UBC won a pair of tight games (25-22, 25-20) to jump out to a commanding lead in the best-of-five affair. The Pandas answered with a dominating game four victory (25-13) but their momentum stopped there. UBC responded with a 25-20 match clinching win.
“It is an amazing way to finish my career,” said Kaufmanis. “I think (coach) Doug (Reimer) summed it up best when he said ourselves, Alberta and Trinity were three championship caliber teams. It was just our time.”
Kaufmanis starred on a McMath team that spent much of her Grade 12 year ranked No. 1 in the province, before being upset in the quarter-finals at the B.C. 4A Championships and settling for fifth place. She also enjoyed plenty of success playing club volleyball — winning four straight provincial titles with the Vancouver Thunder which happens to be associated with the UBC women’s program.
When Kaufmanis arrived at the Point Grey campus, she was a freshman reserve as the Thunderbirds rolled to their sixth consecutive national championship.
The dynasty ended with a loss to Manitoba in the gold medal game the following year. UBC bowed out in the quarter-finals in 2015 and settled for fourth place in 2016. By this season, a hungry group of veteran players were determined to get over the hump.
“We just felt really good about ourselves from the very first game at nationals,” added Kaufmanis. “I think in the past, the pressure might have got to us a bit but not this time. We were so there for each other and everyone on our roster stepped up from start to finish.”
She will now focus on finishing her degree and continue to feed her volleyball appetite with the pro beach version of the game. She is currently partnered with Volleyball B.C. hall-of famer and former UBC star Liz Cordonier. Their schedule will include the Vancouver Open in July at Kits Beach.
“I can honestly say I was in awe of her when she asked to be her partner,” laughed Kaufmanis. “It is a lot of fun playing in an awesome environment.”
