Box Score ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Despite an impressive 20-point performance by Noah Carlson, the UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team were unable to find a win against the UFV Cascades on Sunday, falling in five sets on the road.
The Cascades would start off with the lead in first set until a four-point run by UBCO would put the Heat ahead by one, 9-8. From there, the two teams would be locked in a back-and-forth battle, trading single point leads. Tied up at 24, the Cascades would push through to take the set 26-24 with a kill and service ace.
The second set would be a similar story with the two teams locked in a battle to break the tie through the entirety of the set as neither team able to gain more than a two-point lead at any time. Ultimately, this set would go the way of the Heat, 25-23, with the final kill coming from Max Heppell (Langley, B.C.) to end one of the many long rallies this game would produce. Heppell would be a powerhouse for the Heat this set, contributing eight of his 14 total kills in the second set alone.
It would once again be a similar start for the third set with both teams battling to break away from the tie. This set would see multiple long rallies, including a nearly 40 second rally ended by Carlson with his eighth kill of the night to put the Heat up 13-9. The visiting squad would go on multiple three-point runs as they began to pull away, leading 16-10 at the technical timeout. The Heat would maintain their lead through the remainder of the set, with Carlson getting the final kill, assisted by rookie setter, Zach Van Geel (Calgary, Alta.).
Going into the fourth set, the Cascades would push back against the Heat's momentum as UFV needed a win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. The two teams would once again be stuck in a close battle through most of the set, with the Heat up 16-15 at the technical timeout. The Cascades would then go on a three-point run, interrupted by a kill from Van Geel to once again tie it up at 18 a piece. However, another Cascades run, this time totaling five points, would put them in a comfortable four-point lead and UFV would ultimately take the fourth set 25-20 over the Heat.
UFV would control most of the fifth set, as they denied UBCO the lead. The Heat would make a push towards the end of the set, bringing it within three points (10-13) and forcing the Cascades into a timeout. From there, however, the Cascades were able to respond with two points, taking the set 15-10.
Carlson would lead the Heat with 20 points on the night, tying his career best of 18 kills in a single game, a stat he has only earned once before in a five-set win against TRU this season. He would also contribute eight digs and four blocks in the losing effort for the Heat. Heppell would be close behind in points, putting up 14 kills, nine digs, and two blocks in his 17-point performance.
For the Cascades, Nimo Benne (Castricum, The Netherlands) would lead the team with 20 kills, six service aces, 13 digs, and six blocks for a total of 29 points. Eduardo Ferreira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) would finish with 15 points, contributing 14 kills, one service ace, and eight digs for UFV.
The two teams will be back in action Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Abbotsford as the Heat wrap up their fourth game in four days. All action can be watched live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
