KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team claimed a set off the U SPORTS No. 2-ranked UFV Cascades on Friday morning during their annual School Day Game before falling in four sets (16-25, 16-25, 25-20, 21-25) at the UBCO Gymnasium.
Playing in front of a raucous crowd, which featured close to 750 local elementary and middle school children, the Heat got off to a slow start in the opening two sets before coming on late in the match, nearly pushing the Cascades to the limit.
"We had a great atmosphere today during the school day game," commented Heat head coach
Steve Manuel, whose squad is facing their third nationally-ranked opponent in a row. "UFV played well and we just couldn't get our rhythm. We had a couple of players step into a larger role today as we were down two starters as a game time decision. That depth will serve us well down the stretch, even though we couldn't quite get it done today."
Leading the charge for the Heat in the contest was fourth-year middle
Natalie Funk of Strathmore, Alta. The veteran left her impact all over the game and her play helped spark the Heat in the third and fourth sets. She finished the game with 11 kills, setting a new single-game career high, on 25 attacks to finish with a .320 hitting percentage.
Funk also added five digs and three blocks to finish with a team-high 13 points.
Olivia Boulding of Victoria led the way in attack with 12 kills and 13 points while
Amaya Perry of Chin, Alta., added nine kills.
Two of the players who stepped up due to injury were second-year middle
Marija Josipovic and second-year outside hitter
Kirsten Hill, both of West Kelowna, B.C. Josipovic recorded four kills along with two solo blocks while Hill added one kill, two aces and seven digs.
For the Cascades, the Attieh sisters, Talia and Lauren, both of Surrey, B.C., paced the UFV attack with 12 and 10 kills respectively.
The loss drops UBCO to 3-4 on the season while the Cascades continue to sit first place in the conference on 24 points from an 8-1 record.
The two teams will square off again on Saturday afternoon at the UBCO Gymnasium with first serve set for 1 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the door on game day.
