Box Score KELOWNA B.C. - The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team fell to the No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in four exciting sets at home on Friday evening (18-25, 25-23, 19-25, 17-25).
The first set started off slow until a six point serving streak from Mikayla Benterud gave the Spartans a nine point lead. The visiting team would hold on from there to grab the early advantage.
The Heat, who were swept in their opening doubleheader of the season with Trinity Western, clawed their way back into the match thanks to Jade Bussard. The outside hitter from Red Deer, Alta., led UBCO to a second set win thanks to her five kills while Amaya Perry of Chin, Alta., went on a mid-game serving run to help her team even the match. The UBCO Heat took control of the second set taking a mid-game serving run from Amaya Perry to propel the overall Heat set win. Amaya Perry from Chin, Alta., held a team-high 15 digs for the Heat as well as six kills on the attacking side.
In a quick third set, the Spartans took an early lead with back-to-back kills from Meaghan Mealey and Savannah Purdy that gave the Spartans a strong enough advantage to take the set win and lead 2-1.
Once again, in the fourth and final set, Trinity Western took an early five point lead and prevented the Heat from getting any closer than a two point gap to close out the match in their favour.
Savannah Purdy, from Victoria B.C., a strong competitor for the Trinity Western Spartans, had a team-high 13 kills and 17 kills. Alongside Purdy, Olivia Heinen from Langley B.C., assisted 28 points and 11 digs for the Spartans.
Despite the loss, Sydney Grills from Vancouver B.C., and Jade Bussard from Red Deer Alta., propelled the Heat on Friday evening with a solid attack at the net. Grills contributed a team-high 14.5 points with 11 kills, two serving aces, five digs and three blocks. Bussard, similar to Grills, led the Heat's attack with 13 kills and 14 points as well as seven digs and two blocks. Perry chipped in with six kills along with some great defence, recording a team-high 15 digs.
The UBCO Heat will be back in action at The Furnace on Saturday, February 26th at 3 p.m. to compete once more against the Spartans as they celebrate their graduating seniors, Sara McCreary of Edmonton, Sadie Taylor-Parks of Kelowna, B.C., and Mackenzie Wallace of Lake Country, B.C. Come out and support our seniors or all action can be watched live on CandaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
