KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team is off to their first 2-0 start in three years thanks to a four-set victory (25-18, 20-25, 25-19, 25-18) over the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday night at the UBCO Gymnasium.
Second-year outside hitter
Jack Taylor of Winnipeg led the way for the Heat with a team-high 14 kills on 22 attacks and just one error for a .591 hitting percentage. He would add an ace, three blocks and three digs to finish with 16.5 points.
Two other members of the Heat reached double-digits in kills on the high as
Seba Manuel of Kelowna, B.C., powered home 13 kills while
Lucas Woelders of Langley, B.C., added 11.
MacEwan's Mitchell Croft of Melbourne, Australia led all players with 17 kills in the match.
It was strong play by Taylor in the opening set that helped the Heat jump out to an early lead. The former member of the Canada West All-Rookie team produced six kills in the opening frame as UBCO won the first set by seven points.
After the Griffins responded with their first set win of the weekend in the second set, the Heat used a 6-2 run late in the third set, highlighted by a kill and an ace from Taylor, along with a massive kill from Woelders to claim the third frame.
With the fourth set close midway through the frame, the Heat went on a mini run thanks to strong serving from
Thys Weststrate of Kelowna, B.C., and punctuated by a kill from Manuel to gain a 17-11 advantage. UBCO wouldn't let up from there and a pair of Weststrate kills would close out the match.
With the win, the Heat sit tied for third in the Canada West standings with Alberta and Mount Royal while MacEwan falls to 0-4.
UBCO will now prepare for their Presidents' Cup weekend against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack as the two Interior B.C. rivals square off in Kamloops. The Heat lead the men's Presidents' Cup standings with a 2-0-0 record and could potentially clinch the trophy this weekend with men's basketball also in action against the WolfPack this week.
Game one of the weekend doubleheader is set for Friday, November 1 at 5:30 p.m. and fans can catch all the action live on CanadaWest.tv.