Box Score LANGLEY, B.C. – Thanks to powerful performances by Max Heppell and Noah Carlson, the Heat men's volleyball team was almost able to pull off a shocking win on Friday night, ultimately falling in five sets to the U SPORTS No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans.
The first and second set were controlled by the Spartans as the Heat were unable to find the lead until early in the second set and were overtaken by the hosting squad 25-17 and 25-21.
The Heat picked up the momentum in the third set, going on a four-point run early in the set to put them up 4-2. Once the UBCO squad found their footing, their energy would carry through as they led for most of the set, only giving up the lead once early in the set, 8-9. Propelled by Max Heppell's (Langley, B.C.) offensive efforts, as well as four huge blocks by Teo Ardanaz (Tsawwassen, B.C.) and Noah Carlson (Sylvan Lake, Alta.), the Heat would take the set 25-21, marking just the fifth set lost by the Trinity Western squad in the 2021-22 season.
Riding the wave of momentum into the fourth set, the Heat quickly asserted their dominance on the court, only allowing the Spartans to tie the score up once at 1-1, the closest the hosting team would come to a lead the entire set. Propelled by a five-kill set by Heppell, the Heat forced the top-ranked Spartans squad into a five-set match as UBCO took the fourth set 25-16.
Moving into the fifth set, the Heat started out with as much as a three-point lead until the mid-point of the match when the Spartans began to push back to tie the set up 9-9. The two squads were locked in a battle of trading back-and-forth points, but ultimately, the Spartans could not be stopped as they went on a four-point run to eventually take the final set 15-11.
Leading the Heat in points, Heppell would contribute an impressive 16 kills, two service aces, and four digs in his 18-point night. Carlson would be close behind in points, finishing the night with 16 points thanks to his 13 kills, 10 digs, and six blocks.
The Spartans' winning effort was led by Brodie Hofer who put up 22 kills for a total 24-point game, as well as Isaiah Olfert who added 12 kills, four service aces, and three digs, ending the night with 16.5 points.
The Heat now drop to 4-3 on the season while the undefeated Spartans increase to 7-0.
The two teams will be back in Langley Saturday night as the Heat will look for the weekend split. The game is set to start at 6 p.m. and can be watched live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
