KELOWNA, B.C. – Canada West volleyball action returns to the Okanagan on Friday, October 25 as the UBC Okanagan Heat will host the MacEwan Griffins for their 2024-25 home openers as announced by the conference on Thursday morning.
 
It will be an exciting night of action for UBCO against the Griffins as the evening will mark the regular season debut of new men's volleyball head coach Scott Koskie while women's volleyball head coach Steve Manuel will open up his 24^th season at the helm of the Heat.
 
After a pair of games on home court against MacEwan to begin the year, the Heat will hit the road for their next two weekends of action. First up is a Presidents' Cup showdown against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Kamloops on November 1 and 2 followed by a trip down to the lower mainland to battle the Trinity Western Spartans on November 15 and 16.
 
UBCO's final home games of the Fall term will come on November 22 and 23 against the UFV Cascades, including women's volleyball hosting a School Day Game on Friday, November 22, before they close out 2024 on the road against Calgary on November 29 and 30.
 
Term two begins with a four-game home stand for the blue and gold, featuring a two-game showdown against the UBC Thunderbirds on January 10 and 11, followed by a weekend meeting with the Manitoba Bisons on January 17 and 18. The matches on Friday, Janaury 17 will be highlighted by the Heat's annual Pride Night, which will be hosted for the fourth straight season.
 
Men's volleyball will close out their 2024-25 home schedule on January 24 and 25 against the Mount Royal Cougars, while women's volleyball will enjoy a bye weekend. The final home game on Saturday, January 25 will be Graduating Seniors Night as the Heat will recognize the graduates playing for the final time at UBCO.
 
Both Heat teams head back on the road to face the Saskatchewan Huskies on January 31 and February 1 before the women return to Kelowna for their final home games of the season on February 7 and 8 against the Regina Cougars. The matchup on Saturday, February 8 will see the Heat honour their graduating seniors prior to their last matchup at the UBCO Gymnasium.
 
The regular season wraps up for both Heat teams in Winnipeg against the Wesmen on February 14 and 15.
 
The new 20-game schedule reflects the schedule format changes announced by the conference last October, placing increased emphasis on regional rivalries. In both men's and women's volleyball, each school has four annual opponents they will play each season and will rotate through the remaining teams. Men's teams will play six of eight opponents each year, while women's teams will play six of nine opponents each year.
 
This year will also feature a new playoff format that sees 10 teams qualify for the postseason. Playoffs begin with a best-of-three play-in series February 21 to 23, featuring the #7 seed hosting the #10 seed and the #8 seed hosting the #9 seed. A best-of-three quarterfinal round follows from February 28 to March 1, with a "Final Four" format for the semis and bronze/gold medal games taking place the following weekend.
 
All roads lead to the province of Manitoba for this year's U SPORTS national championships. The University of Manitoba hosts the women's tournament March 14-16 in Winnipeg, while Brandon University welcomes the men's tournament March 21-23. ?