EDMONTON – In an exciting final match of the regular season, the UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team battled their way to a five-set victory over the Alberta Pandas on Saturday night in Edmonton to extend their win streak to five games entering the post-season.
The first two sets would be closely matched as the two teams would be locked in a fight to control the scoring through both sets, with the first going in favour of the Pandas 25-19, followed by a 25-21 second set for the Heat.
It appeared that the Pandas were going to break away in the third set with Alberta taking as much as an eight-point lead and closing out the set at 25-19. However, the Heat bounced back in the fourth set, taking the early lead and not looking back.
Jade Bussard (Red Deer, Alta.) would add seven of her 18 total kills in this set, and
Olivia Tymkiw (Coldstream, B.C.) would add two crucial blocks late in the set to propel the Heat to a decisive 25-15 set finish.
The fifth was a close struggle for the lead as each team had the advantage at multiple points through the set. With the Pandas leading 13-12, the Heat took a timeout that would prove to change the course of the match as they re-entered the match with renewed energy and went on a three-point run to clinch the victory.
Sydney Grills (Vancouver, B.C.) would complete a block to give the Heat the match point and
Abigail Dueck (Winnipeg, Man.) would follow that up with a service ace to secure the win for the Heat 15-13.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jade Bussard – UBCO
The 6-0 outside hitter contributed a strong performance for the Heat, leading her team with 20 points. She added two service aces, four digs, and 18 kills, hitting .412 in the winning affair.
Lauryn Tremblay – GMU
The 6-0 outside hitter would be a force on the court in tonight's match, contributing 21 points with 18 kills, three blocks, and one service ace.
WHERE THEY SIT
The Heat's record rises to 13-11 at the end of the regular season, securing themselves eighth place in Canada West and advancing on to the first round of the playoffs. For the Pandas, their season is now at an end as they finish in the ninth place in the division with a 10-14 record.
UP NEXT
The Heat, riding the third-longest active win streak in the conference, will advance to face the No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in the Canada West quarter-finals. The best-of-three series will begin on Thursday night, February 23, in Langley, B.C. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and all the action can be seen live on
Canada West TV.
