ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team swept the UFV Cascades on Saturday night (25-17, 25-18, 25-19), led by performances from
Renn Petryk and rookie
Lucas Woelders.
Petryk, an Edmonton native, would be a force to be reckoned with throughout the match, tallying 15 kills in his 16.5-point performance. Two of the 15 would be set-winning points as Petryk would earn the final kill in the first and last sets.
The Heat would dominate the court throughout the road game match as they led the scoring for the majority of the action. In the first set, trailing 12-15, the Heat would take a crucial timeout which would change the momentum of the match. Coming back into the match, UBCO would go on a six-point uninterrupted run which would include a block by Petryk and
Thys Weststrate (Kelowna, B.C.) and two back-to-back kills from Petryk to improve the score to 18-15 in favour of the Heat.
Carrying the momentum into the second, the Heat would go on another unanswered run, this time earning eight points to give them an 11-5 lead early in the set. Out of the six kills he tallied in the second set, Petryk would contribute three consecutive kills in this run.
The third set would be much the same story as the first two, as the Heat would take an early lead and control the action through the rest of the set. Woelders, of Lanagley, B.C., would take the spotlight in this set, however, as he added eight of his 12 total kills for the match.
TOP PERFORMERS
Lucas Woelders – UBCO
The rookie outside hitter would earn a new personal best record while playing in Heat colours as he added 12 kills, two digs, and two blocks for a 13-point match. Woelders previous best game came just the night before when he totalled 10 points with seven kills.
Jonas van Huizen – UFV
The second-year setter would lead his team in points in the loss, adding 9.5 points with five kills, three service aces, and four digs.
WHERE THEY SIT
After the weekend sweep, the Heat's record now improves to 6-14 on the season, now sitting in 11th place in the Canada West division. UBCO sits two games out of the final playoff spot with four left on their schedule.
With the loss, the Cascades' record drops to 4-18 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Heat will return for their final home games of the regular season next weekend as they celebrate the second annual Pride Night in the Furnace on Friday and Graduating Seniors night on Saturday. The matches against the MacEwan Griffins are set to begin at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m. with tickets available at the door for both games.
