KELOWNA, B.C. – Renn Petryk's 18-kill performance on Friday night at The Furnace led the Heat men's volleyball team to a five-set victory over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, securing the men's Presidents' Cup trophy for UBCO for the second consecutive year.
Down two sets to one, the turning point of the match came in the fourth set when UBCO was able to find their rhythm, controlling the flow of play for the rest of the match.
Coming into the fourth set with renewed confidence, the Heat kicked off the set it off with an 8-2 lead. Zach van Geel (Calgary, Alta.) would assist a kill by Renn Petryk (Edmonton, Alta.), his 15
th of the match, to increase the Heat's lead to 17-10. The Heat would put as much as 11 points between them and the WolfPack multiple times in the set, eventually forcing TRU into a fifth set when Keaton Mann (Ladner, B.C.) ended the set 25-13 with a kill assisted by Seba Manuel (Kelowna, B.C.).
The Heat carried the momentum of the fourth set win into the fifth set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and denying the WolfPack a chance at the lead for the remainder of the set. Petryk and Teo Ardanaz (Tsawwassen, B.C.) would give the Heat the match point off an impenetrable block, setting up the Heat for the 15-13 fifth set win to take home the Presidents' Cup victory.
RETAINING THE CUP
Combined with men's basketball's victory early in the evening, UBCO jumped out to a 3-0-1 lead in the men's Presidents' Cup standings with only two games remaining between the school universities. The victory marks the second consecutive year that the Heat have captured the challenge trophy that was originally launched in 1993.
TOP PERFORMERS
Renn Petryk – UBCO
The 6-5 outside hitter would set a personal best record for his time with the Heat, hammering down a total of 18 kills in the win. Petryk would also add three service aces and four blocks in his 23-point performance.
Sam Flowerday – TRU
The Proserpine, AUS product would be the WolfPack's leader in tonight's loss, adding 16 kills, two service aces and three blocks in his 19.5 point showing.
WHERE THEY SIT
After the five-set win in the Presidents' Cup match, which rounded out the Heat's overall Friday performance to a pefect 4-0 record across both volleyball and basketball matches, the Heat's record rises to 3-4 on the season. With the loss, the Wolfpack now fall to a 4-3 record on the season.
UP NEXT
The Heat will be back at The Furnace on Saturday as they look to sweep TRU. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m. and tickets for the game can be purchased at the door.
