KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team improved to 3-0 for the first time in three seasons after they posted a four-set victory (25-20, 25-19, 15-25, 25-18) over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Friday night.
The Heat used a combination of strong middle play as well as impressive blocking to knock off their Interior B.C. rivals and improve to 3-1 in the men's Presidents' Cup competition.
Third-year middle
Ashton South of Calgary was particular dominant against the WolfPack as he finished the match with nine kills on just 12 attacks, hitting .667 percent while fellow middle
Thys Weststrate of Kelowna, B.C., had seven kills to go along with 4.5 total blocks.
Outside hitter
Seba Manuel of Kelowna, B.C., led the Heat with 11 kills and finished with a team-high 13.5 points as he also added five digs and 1.5 total blocks.
Dylan Annala of Dinsmore, Sask., paced the host WolfPack with a match-high 15 kills and 17 points.
The first set was a close one as the team's found themselves tied at 18 late in the frame. The Heat would pull away to claim the opening set thanks to a 7-2 run, thanks to a pair of kills from Manuel and two blocks from Weststrate.
A strong start to the second set, as the Heat jumped ahead 14-7, allowed UBCO to cruise to a 2-0 lead, with Weststrate once again supplying key kills late.
The WolfPack would rebound in the third set, hitting .400 percent to extend the match, but UBCO was not rattled, taking control of the fourth mid-way through the frame with a 6-0 run to ultimately pick up the win.
Thanks to their 3-1 lead in the men's Presidents' Cup, the UBCO can re-claim the trophy with a win over the WolfPack on Saturday, November 2 when the two teams rematch in Kamloops. First serve is set for 3 p.m. and the game can be seen live on CanadaWest.tv, presented by Biosteel.
