LANGLEY, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team upset the U SPORTS No. 7-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in three sets (25-23, 25-16, 25-19) on Saturday night on the strength of some efficient hitting to earn a weekend split at the Langley Events Centre.
The win was powered by the dynamic duo of
Olivia Boulding of Victoria, and
Amaya Perry of Chin, Alta. The two outside hitters combined for 24 of the team's 39 kills, with Boulding hitting a sparkling .444 percent while committing zero errors.
Perry would add seven digs and three service aces to record a game-high 15.5 points.
UBCO also got strong play from their middles as
Madison Gardner of Vernon, B.C., and
Natalie Funk of Strathmore, Alta., had nine kills and just two errors, while leading the Heat's block party. UBCO posted 13 blocks, compared to just six for the Spartans, with Gardner and Funk combining for 5 and 2.5 respectively.
Setter
Kylan Finseth of St. Albert, Alta., would orchestrate the offence to perfection all night, finishing with 30 assists.
The opening set saw the Heat build an 11-5 lead early, thanks to three kills from Boulding, but the Spartans would battle back and took a 19-17 lead. However, a key 5-0 run from UBCO would flip the set back in their favour and a kill from
Olivia Tymkiw of Coldstream, B.C., clinched the opening set for the visitors for the second straight night.
Unlike on Friday, UBCO would use the momentum of the first set win to propel themselves forward. The Heat were strong early in the second frame, grabbing a 7-2 lead, and they would never allow Trinity Western to get closer than three points as they went up two sets to none.
Another strong start to the third set proved crucial as the Spartans fought hard to extend the match. But the Heat would prove to be strong closers on this night as a kill from Perry and a crucial block from Gardner and Tymkiw sealed the match late in favour of UBCO.
With the win, the Heat return to .500 in the Canada West standings as they sit with a 3-3 record in a pack of eight teams within two wins of each other early in the season. The loss, meanwhile, drops the Spartans to 5-3.
UBCO will be back on home court next weekend as they look to build on this win when they take on the U SPORTS No. 3-ranked UFV Cascades. The opening game of the weekend doubleheader will be a School Day Game affair on Friday, November 22 with over 700 elementary and middle school children in attendance.
First serve is set for 11 a.m. at the UBCO Gymnasium and limited general admission seating will be available with tickets available at the door.
