Box Score KELOWNA, B.C. - The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball capped off a perfect weekend on Saturday with their second consecutive victory over the UFV Cascades to open the season.
The Heat took home the win in four sets (25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22) to move to 2-0 and have have now six of seven sets played this season.
Winning games becomes easier when your best players are your best players and that was the story for the Heat as their top performers had strong games. Third-year outside hitter and reigning U SPORTS Rookie of the Year chalked up 12 kills, including seven in the first set alone. The Chin, Alta., native also recorded 10 digs and an ace in the win.
Sydney Grills, of Vancouver, had a game-high 16 kills, while Jade Bussard (Red Deer, Alta.) racked up 11 and added 12 digs in the Heat's victory.
The Cascades' win in the third set is the first set they've won in their program's history, competing in their first Canada West season. Kristen McBride, a hitter from Mission, B.C., highlighted Fraser Valley's stat-line with team-highs in kills with 11 and digs with 14.
UBCO setter Sara McCleary of Edmonton, had a team-high 25 assists in her second career start for the home side, while Fraser Valley's Cailin Bitter of Abbotsford, B.C., led her team with 12 helpers.
Vernon's Olivia Tymkiw, a 6-2 hitter, checked into the game in the second set. Seeing action for the first time in Canada West, the rookie was able to knock down her first career kill on four attacks.
The Heat start the year 2-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season, a year in which the team went 15-9 and placed fourth at the Canada West Championships.
UBCO would hit .254 In the game, trumping UFV's .179.
UFV's second straight loss keeps them winless in their first season in Canada West.
Next on tap for the Heat is a two-game set against their rivals, the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack in Kamloops on November 12th and 13th. The matches will count as part of the President's Cup competition which the Heat currently lead with a 1-0-2 record.
Catch all the action on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
