ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team snapped their 10-game losing streak on Friday night thanks to an impressive straight sets victory over the UFV Casades.

Renn Petryk of Edmonton, was a difference maker on the evening for the Heat as he posted a team-high 13 points to lead UBCO to victory. 
 
The Heat would start the match off strong, earning as much as a six-point lead (20-14) near the end of the set after back-to-back service aces from Thys Weststrate (Kelowna, B.C.). Two consecutive kills, the first by Weststrate and the next by Zach van Geel (Calgary), would secure the set 25-19 for UBCO.
 
In the second set, the Heat would call a timeout as they trailed 13-11. This timeout would turn around the set for the Heat, coming back to earn four consecutive points to force the Cascades into a timeout. The Cascades' timeout could not stifle the Heat's energy as they would increase their lead to 17-13 immediately after the timeout with back-to-back kills from  Petryk. After an attempted comeback by UFV, the Heat would shut down the set 25-23.
 
The energy would carry into the third set for the Heat, leading the scoring throughout the set to eventually seal the victory at 25-18 with a UFV attack error. The match would close with a four-point run for the Heat, kicked off by a kill by Petryk, followed by a service ace for Teo Ardanaz (Tsawwassen, B.C.) and a block by Weststrate and Seba Manuel (Kelowna, B.C.).

M??| S3

Seba Manuel and Thys Weststrate with a huge block to give the Heat the match point, 24-18!

2-0 | #FeedtheFlame?? | #UBCOvsUFV pic.twitter.com/GShlVngubP

— UBCO Heat ?? (@UBCOHeat) February 4, 2023

 
TOP PERFORMERS
Renn Petryk – UBCO
The 6-5 outside hitter would lead his team to victory with his 13-point performance, including 10 kills, two blocks, and two service aces in the evening match.
 
Caleb Kastelein – UFV
Leading his squad in the losing effort, the third year outside hitter would tally seven kills and four digs for a total of seven points.
                                                                                                                                       
WHERE THEY SIT
With their losing streak coming to an end, the Heat improve to 5-14 on the season, good for 11th in Canada West. UBCO sits three games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference with five games remaining. Meanwhile, the Cascades drop to 4-17 and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
 
UP NEXT
The two teams will be back in action in Abbotsford tomorrow evening with the match set to start at 7 p.m. All action can be watched live on Canada West TV.