Box Score KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team nearly pulled off another upset win over the U SPORTS No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans on Graduating Seniors night Saturday at the Furnace but the home team would ultimately fall in a narrow five set defeat (25-23, 19-25, 25-17, 19-25, 14-16)
The Heat squad would have a hot start, taking the lead early and running with it through the entire first set, only allowing TWU close enough to tie it up a few times. A kill by Noah Carlson (Sylvan Lake, Alta.), assisted by Eli Risso (Kelowna, B.C.), would put the Heat ahead by four points at the technical timeout, 16-12. The Heat would go on to earn a five-point lead after a service ace from Maxwell Heppell of Langley, B.C., put the score at 20-15. The Spartans would push back near the end of the set, going on a four-point run to tie it up at 22 a piece. However, Heppell would lay down a kill to earn a set-point for the Heat, and an attack error from the visitors would allow the Heat to take the set 25-23.
The Spartans would have a strong start to the second set, leading 11-7 until a four-point Heat run, including two kills from Teo Ardanaz (Tsawwassen, B.C.), would tie the two squads up at 11. The teams would be fighting to pull away until the tie at 16-16 when the Spartans began to put some distance between them and the Heat, eventually taking the set 25-19.
The two squads would be locked in a tie through the start of the third set until the Heat went on a six-point run, taking the score from 9-9 to 15-9. Four of the six points came from Cam Vanderveen (Abbotsford, B.C.), adding three kills and a shared block with Ardanaz. The Heat would hold on to their lead for the remainder of the set, going on a five-point run later in the set to increase their lead to 21-12. Ardanaz, assisted by Zach Van Geel (Calgary, Alta.), would shut down the third-set action with a kill for the Heat, taking the set 25-17.
The Spartans would control the majority of the fourth set after breaking the early tie, although the Heat managed to limit their momentum, keeping TWU within three points until late in the set. TWU would pull away after a UBCO timeout at 19-16, ultimately taking the set 25-19.
Once again, the Spartans started out strong, going on a three-point run to open the fifth set and maintaining their lead until a UBCO timeout would shift the momentum in the hosting squad's favour. Down 7-3, UBCO would lay down six unanswered points including two kills from Heppell and two blocks from Carlson and Caleb Funk (Strathmore, Alta.), giving the Heat a 9-7 lead. The Spartans would come back to take the lead 12-10, leading the two teams to battle to gain a foothold out of the tie breakers. Locked in a tie at 14-14, the Spartans would be the ones to ultimately gain enough of a lead to take the final set 16-14.
Heppell, one of the four graduating players honoured in the senior's night ceremony, added two service aces tonight for a total of 23 in the 2021-22 season, breaking the Heat's record for the most service aces in a single season. His record-breaking performance, in which he hit an impressive .440, included 16 kills and three digs on top of the two service aces, finishing his final regular season game in the Heat uniform with 18 points.
Vanderveen and Ardanaz would both have solid performances to further the efforts of Heppell. Vanderveen would add 12.5 points, including eight kills, six digs, and seven blocks, while Ardanaz would contribute five kills, two digs, and eight blocks for a total of 12 points.
The Spartans would be led by Henry Rempel (Swift Current, Sask.) with 25 points including 17 kills, five service aces, and six blocks. Isaiah Olfert (Winnipeg) would also have a solid game for TWU, adding 15 kills, six digs, and three blocks.
With the regular season action now complete, both teams are guaranteed to make the playoffs, with the Heat finishing in the third place in the division with an 8-8 record while the Spartans sit at the top of the division at 15-1.
Next up, the Heat will hit the road, traveling to Winnipeg for the opening round of the playoffs next weekend where UBCO is set to face the Winnipeg Wesmen, Manitoba Bisons, and Calgary Dinos. Stay tuned to GoHeat.ca for complete playoff information while all action can be watched live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
