LANGLEY, B.C. – The UBC Okangan Heat women's volleyball team had their 2022-23 season come to a close on Friday night as they lost Game 2 of their best-of-three quarter-final series to the U SPORTS No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in straight sets at the Langley Events Centre.
 
One night after an incredibly close loss to the Spartans, the Heat were unable to muster the same level of consistency as they demonstrated in Game 1 through the opening two sets as they lost each by identical 25-18 score lines.
 
In the third set, UBCO came to life after an early timeout from head coach Steve Manuel. With their season on the line, the Heat chipped away at the Spartans four-point advantage thanks to some strong play from graduating senior Sydney Grills of Vancouver, and second-year middle Natalie Funk of Strathmore, Alta. The duo would lead the Heat all the way back as they took a 23-22 lead late in the frame, forcing a timeout from the Spartans.

W??| S3

Natalie Funk gets a huge kill for the Heat to tie up the set at 22 a piece!

0-2 | #FeedtheFlame??| #UBCOvsTWU pic.twitter.com/aYh0x5XUDz

— UBCO Heat ?? (@UBCOHeat) February 25, 2023

 
After the break, the Heat lost their rhythm and Trinity Western won four straight points to close out the match and the series in their favour.
 
Grills, playing in her final game as a member of the Heat, led the offensive charge for UBCO as she did so many times in her career, finishing with a game-high 12 kills and 14 points.
 
Funk was also impressive, hitting .500 for the match as she had eight kills, four blocks and an ace for 11.5 points.
 
The Spartans talented middle combination of Kaylee Plouffe of Sherwood Park, Alta., and Savannah Purdy of Victoria, paced the defending U SPORTS Champions to the series sweep as both players had 11 kills for 14 and 13 points respectively.
 
Along with Grills, five other members of the Heat played their final game in a UBCO uniform, including Jade Bussard of Red Deer, Alta., Hali Drezet of Prince George, B.C., Stephanie Temme of Kelowna, B.C., Rayn Perry of Chin, Alta., and Kendall Stephan of Springwater, Ont.
 
Both Bussard and Drezet played key roles on Friday with Bussard finishing with 10 kills and 12 points while Drezet had five digs and four assists.