KELOWNA, B.C. - As the weather starts to cool, the action is heating up for the UBCO Heat this week as the men's and women's volleyball teams get their 2024-25 regular season underway with a pair of home matchups against the MacEwan Griffins. On the road, four fall teams are competing in the post-season as men's and women's cross country compete in the Canada West Championships in Camrose, Alta., while men's rugby competes in the Prairie U Championship in Saskatoon. Finally, women's soccer kicks off their 2024 playoff run with a Canada West Quarter-final matchup against the Calgary Dinos in Calgary.

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Women's Volleyball
October 25th vs MacEwan Griffins - 5:00 PM - UBCO Gymnasium
October 26th vs MacEwan Griffins - 4:00 PM - UBCO Gymnasium

Coming off a successful 6-2 preseason record, including winning the Bison-Wesmen Classic for the second straight year, Women's Volleyball look to get off to a hot start as they host the MacEwan Griffins on Friday and Saturday evening. UBCO enters the regular season ranked seventh in the Canada West Coaches Poll as head coach Steve Manuel gets set to unveil a retooled lineup, led by fifth-year senior outside hitter Amaya Perry. Along with returning veterans in middle Natalie Funk, libero Tessa Ivans and outside hitter Olivia Tymkiw, Manuel has added third-year setter Kylan Finseth and transfer outside hitter Olivia Boulding from the University of Montana to his roster as the Heat look to build on their Canada West Quarter-final appearance from a season ago.

Men's Volleyball
October 25th vs MacEwan Griffins - 7:00 PM - UBCO Gymnasium
October 26th vs MacEwan Griffins - 6:00 PM - UBCO Gymnasium

Men's Volleyball is back in action in the Furnace this weekend as they start their 2024-25 at home with a pair of games against the MacEwan Griffins. Head Coach Scott Koskie makes his regular season head coaching debut on Friday night and the first-year bench boss will be leaning on Team Canada athletes Zach van Geel and Ashton South, along with key returners in Seba Manuel, Thys Weststrate and Lucas Woelders, as the Heat look to climb the Canada West standings. The team enjoyed a strong but short preseason, picking up a win against the Mount Royal Cougars while playing perennial national championship contenders, the Trinity Western Spartans, to a close three-set match.

AWAY
Women's Soccer
October 25th vs Calgary Dinos - 3:30 PM (PT) - Calgary, Alta.

Women's Soccer is on the road this weekend as they prepare to battle against the U SPORTS No. 7-ranked Calgary Dinos in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Canada West playoffs.

Coming off a weekend of ties against the Victoria Vikes and the Mount Royal Cougars, the women will look to fourth-year forward Abigail Taneda whose assist against the Cougars last weekend helped her to top UBCO's career scoring list with her 21st point in a Heat uniform. Coming off their best defensive season since joining Canada West, the Heat will be looking for the upset on the road as they seek their first-ever appearance in the Canada West Final Four tournament.

Men's & Women's Cross Country 
October 26th - Canada West Championships - 11:00 AM - Camrose, Alta.

Coming off a week of rest, both Cross Country teams will travel to Camrose, Alta., this weekend as they are set to participate in the Canada West Championships. 

The Women's Cross Country team is ranked ninth in the U SPORTS national rankings for the second consecutive week as Lauren McNeil's strong first-place finish in the Stewart Cup looks to give the team momentum to succeed in this week's championship race.

On the men's side, Owen Lloyd will be leading the Heat into the conference championship as the third-year runner has posted strong results in each of his races this season.

Men's Rugby
October 26th vs Mount Royal Cougars - 1:30 PM (PT) - Saskatoon, Sask.

Men's Rugby is on the road this weekend as they are set to compete in the Prairie U Championship. The Heat's opponent in the semifinals will be the Mount Royal Cougars followed by a gold or bronze medal match on the final day on Sunday.

Coming off an undefeated season and a Hindson Cup in hand, the men will look to defeat the Cougars once again this season as the last time these two teams met the Heat dominated in a 43-7 victory. Jack McCallum, one of this week's UBCO Athletes of the Week, was instrumental in that victory, scoring an early try, and is coming off a massive performance against Calgary, scoring 22 of his team's 24 points.