EDMONTON - In a match that turned out to be a showdown for sixth place in the Canada West standings heading into the postseason, the UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team fell in three sets (25-27, 21-25, 22-25) to the MacEwan Griffins as the hosts celebrated their graduating seniors on the final day of the regular season.
Despite the loss, the Heat were able to claim seventh place in the conference after the Winnipeg Wesmen were upset by the Regina Cougars earlier in the day to avoid a showdown with the top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds in the opening round of the playoffs.
Fourth-year graduating senior Mariah Bereziuk of Boyle, Alta., was the catalyst for the home team once again on Saturday as she paced her team's efforts with 12 kills while Arden Butler of Edmonton, chipped in with 11 of her own.
For the Heat,
Olivia Tymkiw of Coldstream, B.C., was the top offensive performer on the afternoon, recording eight kills while adding three blocks and five digs defensively. Rookie
Korey Jenkins of Calgary, would add seven kills along with six digs.
After the two teams played a tightly-contest match the night before, it was a similar story on Saturday with very little separating the two squads during the match's three sets.Â
The opening set saw the Heat earn a match point at 24-22, but four crucial kills from the Griffins, including two from Bereziuk, flipped the set in their favour as they hosts walked away with a 27-25 win.
The second set started hot for the Heat as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead before MacEwan slowly began to chip away. A 6-1 run in the middle of the frame gave the Griffins a lead they wouldn't relinquish and despite UBCO's best efforts, they fell behind two sets to none.
The two teams would trade runs in the third set, leading to wild swings in momentum. Tymkiw and Jenkins were at the heart of the Heat attack in the third, with a Jenkins kill giving UBCO an 18-17 advantage. In the end, however, a crucial kill from the Griffins' Butler would key a 4-0 run to close the set and the match.
TOP PERFORMERS
Abigail Dueck - UBCO Heat
The veteran setter from Winnipeg, playing in her final regular season match, put in a strong effort for the Heat, finishing with 28 assists, along with two kills, four aces, two blocks and six digs.
Arden Butler - MacEwan Griffins
The third-year outside hitter from Edmonton, came up big for her team on Saturday, finishing with 11 kills, while hitting .364 percent, while adding 10 digs and one ace.
WHERE THEY SIT
After clinching a berth in the Canada West playoffs the night before, the Heat will wind up seventh in the conference standings with a 10-14 record as the Griffins finish in sixth with a 12-12 mark.
UP NEXT
UBCO will advance to face the second-seeded Manitoba Bisons in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-finals with all games slated to be hosted by the Bisons. Stay tuned to GoHeat.ca for complete playoff schedule information as it becomes available.
