LANGLEY, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team went toe-to-toe with the U SPORTS No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in Game 1 of their best-of-three Canada West Quarter-final series on Thursday night but ultimately fell in three sets at the Langley Events Centre.
Amaya Perry of Chin, Alta., led the way for a Heat attack that had 52 kills compared to 45 for the Spartans in Game 1. She fired home 16 kills, while hitting a sparkling .467, and finished the match with 18 points.
Sydney Grills of Vancouver, B.C., also hit double figures for kills with 14 while
Jade Bussard of Red Deer, Alta., added 12.
Savannah Purdy of Victoria, led the host Spartans with 14 kills.
Both teams came out swinging big in the opening set but it was a 5-1 run in the middle of the frame for the Spartans, powered by a pair of service aces from Mikayla Benterud of Sherwood Park, Alta., that proved to be the turning point. Holding a 12-8 lead, the Spartans would be able to thwart each Heat rally to take the opening frame 25-22.
The middle frame produced one of the most memorable sets of volleyball of the season for the Heat. Trailing 19-15 in the frame, UBCO went on a 5-1 run of their own, thanks to a pair of kills from both Grills and Bussard to even the set at 20 apiece.
Both the Heat and Spartans would have their opportunities to clinch the set as the two teams battled back and forth past 25 points. In the end, a 4-1 run from Trinity closed out a lengthy set at 35-33.
In the final frame, the Heat got off to a quick start and led 9-7 after a Bussard kill. However, a 6-0 run from the Spartans gave them a lead they would not relinquish to close out the set and the match 25-21.
Serving proved to be the difference on the night for the home team as they produced just seven errors on their serves, compared to 17 for the Heat. The Spartans also had six aces to five for UBCO.
Trinity Western now leads the series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Friday night, February 24. UBCO will need to pick up a victory to keep their season alive and force the series to a third and deciding game.
Friday match will get underway at 6 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
