ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The U SPORTS No. 7-ranked UBCO Heat (7-1) won their fourth straight game on Saturday night, powering past the UFV Cascades (0-8) in a four-set showdown at the UFV Athletics Centre, clinching the match 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17.

UBCO's attack was on fire all night long, hitting .340 percent, including an impressive .571 hitting percentage in the second set.

Zach van Geel orchestrated the offence brilliantly, racking up 44 assists and contributing nine digs across four sets. Seba Manuel led the scoring charge with 16 kills on 29 swings, achieving a .448 hitting percentage. Thys Weststrate added 12 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and tallied five total blocks. Xander van Driel completed the team effort with 11 kills and a team-high 12 digs.

For UFV, Silas Van Huizen was pivotal with 30 assists across four games, facilitating their offence. Hudson Brandsma was a standout with 13 kills and 15.0 points, leading the team in scoring. 

The opening set saw the two teams trade points early before the Cascades, thanks to a key block from Kian Bos and Roan McCarthy, pulled ahead. Despite the Heat's efforts, including kills from Manuel and Weststrate, UFV held firm, sealing the first set 25-21 with a McCarthy kill.

In the second set, UBCO seized an early lead with a kill from Manuel assisted by van Geel. The Heat extended their advantage to 4-0, highlighted by a block from Weststrate. UFV narrowed the gap to 10-9, led by Brandsma and Bos, but UBCO regained control after a timeout, with Weststrate and van Driel stepping up. Despite UFV's persistence, UBCO held on, and van Driel's crucial kills wrapped up the set 25-23 for the Heat.

The third set saw the Heat mounting a decisive comeback, turning a tight contest into a commanding finish. Manuel and van Geel were instrumental, with Manuel delivering multiple kills and van Geel setting up key plays, including a momentum-shifting block. A pivotal moment came when UBCO tied the score at 19-19, then surged ahead with a 5-0 run, capped by another Manuel kill to reach match point. A UFV service error sealed the 25-20 victory in the set.

The fourth set began with UBCO on the front foot, establishing an early lead with blocks from Manuel and Searcy, taking advantage of UFV's attack errors. Van Geel was crucial, contributing to multiple points, including a vital kill at 3-2 and setting up Weststrate for another score. As the set progressed, UBCO stretched their lead to 14-7, thanks to a Searcy service ace, prompting a UFV timeout. Despite several service errors on both sides, UBCO maintained control, with van Geel assisting multiple kills, including one by Mika Feilberg. UBCO closed the set with a Weststrate kill at 25-17, securing the set and the match with a decisive win.

Looking ahead, UBCO will take on the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Friday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the UBCO Gymnasium. The men's Presidents' Cup showdown is a must-win for UBCO as they trail 3-0 in the season series with the WolfPack, after dropping two games in soccer and one in basketball.

Fans can purchase their tickets for the match by visiting GoHeat.ca/Tickets.

Game Notes:
- the Heat extended their best-ever start to a season since joining Canada West, notching their seventh win in eight games
- this fourth consecutive victory ties the longest streak in team history since joining Canada West
- van Geel now ranks in the top five in the conference for assists per set, digs, and digs per set
- Manuel now sits in the top five in the conference for kills and kills per set
- Weststrate has claimed the top spot in Canada West for blocks per set at 1.53