KELOWNA, B.C. – After a month off for the holiday break, the UBCO Heat volleyball and basketball teams return to action this weekend to open the 2024 portion of their schedule.
AT HOME
Women's Volleyball
January 5th vs U SPORTS No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds - 5 PM - UBCO Gymnasium
January 6th vs U SPORTS No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds - 4 PM - UBCO Gymnasium
The Heat women (5-7) return to action as they host one of the top teams in Canada, the UBC Thunderbirds (11-1). The Heat have historically enjoyed good success against the Thunderbirds on home court, including splitting each of their last two weekend doubleheaders in Kelowna. UBCO will lean on veteran outside hitter
Amaya Perry against UBC, who currently ranks 10
th in the conference in kills (110) and second in Canada West in aces (24) this season.
Men's Volleyball
January 5th vs U SPORTS No. 10 UBC Thunderbirds - 7 PM - UBCO Gymnasium
January 6th vs U SPORTS No. 10 UBC Thunderbirds - 6 PM - UBCO Gymnasium
The Heat men (1-11) will look to take down the nationally-ranked Thunderbirds (8-4) as the two sister-school rivals square off this weekend in Kelowna. Keep an eye on second-year outside hitter
Seba Manuel for the Heat as the sophomore is closing in on his second 100-plus kill season of his young career. Manuel is coming off a strong showing at the Wesmen Classic and will look to carry his play over to this weekend's action.
ON THE ROAD
Women's Basketball
January 5th vs Victoria Vikes - 6 PM - Victoria, B.C.
January 6th vs Victoria Vikes - 5 PM - Victoria, B.C.
The Heat women (4-4) open up the New Year on the road against the winless Vikes (0-6). These two teams squared off during exhibition play in October with Victoria earning a narrow five-point victory which will give UBCO extra motivation heading into the matchup. Heat forward
Jaeli Ibbetson sees her first action since being named both the Canada West and U SPORTS women's basketball player of the week to close out 2023 and she enters the second half of the season currently second in the country in rebounding averaging 13.0 per contest.
Men's Basketball
January 5th vs U SPORTS No. 2 Victoria Vikes - 8 PM - Victoria, B.C.
January 6th vs U SPORTS No. 2 Victoria Vikes - 7 PM - Victoria, B.C.
The Heat men (2-6) have a tall task this weekend as they square off against the Vikes (5-1) one of the best in the country on the road. After battling through injury issues in the first half of the season, the Heat look to be fully healthy heading into 2024 as they look to climb into the playoff picture in the second half. UBCO guard
Jalen Shirley will be one to watch this weekend as he's averaging 16.9 points per game, 11th-best in the conference, one of the best marks in team history.
