KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's basketball team had their three-game winning streak to open the season halted on Saturday afternoon as they lost a four-set contest (25-22, 28-30, 19-25, 18-25) to the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
After posting a four-set win over TRU the night before, the Heat got off to a strong start on Saturday as they captured the opening set.
Sam Jablonski of Kelowna, B.C., who was making his first start of the season, made an early contribution for the Heat, posting an ace and a pair of kills, including one late in the frame to put UBCO up three.
The second set was a wild affair as it went beyond 25 points with both teams having an opportunity to win the match. Unfortunately for the Heat, two late kills from the WolfPack's Rylan Ibbetson of Kelowna, B.C., pushed the hosts ahead as they claimed the extended frame.
The set win seemed to give the hosts momentum as they jumped out to an early lead in the third and fourth sets, not allowing UBCO back into the match as TRU came away with the victory.
Seba Manuel of Kelowna, B.C., led the charge for the Heat with 13 kills while
Jack Taylor of Winnipeg added 12 of his own. Meanwhile, setter
Zach van Geel of Calgary recorded 38 assists, four kills and seven digs in the match.
On the opposite side of the court, Ibbetson finished with 13 kills and Matthew Hamilton of Lethbridge, Alta., led all scorers with 17 kills and 19 points.
The decision leaves UBCO sitting with a 3-1 record through their opening two weekends of the season while TRU moves back to .500 at 2-2.
In the race for the men's Presidents' Cup trophy between UBCO and TRU, the Heat now lead the season series 3-2. The trophy will be awarded in Kelowna when the two schools square off in men's basketball on Friday, January 31 and Saturday, November 1.
Up next for men's volleyball, they will enjoy a bye weekend before returning to action on Friday, November 15 when they tangle with the Trinity Western Spartans in Langley, B.C. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen live on CanadaWest.tv, presented by Biosteel.
