KELOWNA, B.C. — The U SPORTS No. 7-ranked UBCO Heat men's volleyball team (8-1) edged out the Thompson Rivers WolfPack (2-7) in a thrilling five-set battle, winning 22-25, 25-14, 19-25, 28-26, 15-11 at the UBCO Gymnasium on Friday night. UBCO secured the match with a .400 hitting percentage in the decisive fifth set.

Zach van Geel orchestrated the attack for the Heat with 36 assists while also contributing seven digs and four block assists. Seba Manuel tallied 12 kills on 32 attempts and added 10 digs, alongside two solo blocks, to his performance. Thys Weststrate was pivotal at the net, recording eight block assists and adding eight kills. Xander van Driel effectively added 13 kills and five digs, finishing with a .312 hitting percentage.

Rylan Ibbetson led Thompson Rivers with 18.0 points, accumulating 16 kills and contributing four block assists over five games. Alex Howard followed closely, generating 16.5 points with an impressive attack percentage of .429, delivering 15 kills and three block assists.

The opening set featured a tightly contested exchange between UBCO and Thompson Rivers. UBCO started strong with early pressure, capitalizing on attack errors by Thompson Rivers to take an initial 2-0 lead, highlighted by a block from Lucas Woelders and Weststrate. Despite maintaining momentum, UBCO faced a pushback as Thompson Rivers retrieved a lead mid-set.

Key moments included a service ace by Stephen Searcy and effective blocking by Seba Manuel, which kept the scoreline close. However, Thompson Rivers managed to edge ahead towards the end, sealing the set with a score of 25-22.

UBCO capitalized on several errors by Thompson Rivers to secure a strong lead in the second set. An impactful sequence saw Manuel deliver a kill from a van Geel assist, increasing the home team's advantage to 3-0 early on. Defensive efforts by Weststrate and van Geel, including a crucial block, further extended the lead to 6-2.

The WolfPack attempted to close the gap, but continued service errors and attack errors hindered their progress. Searcy contributed significantly to the home team's momentum with multiple kills, supported by assists from van Geel, pushing the score to 15-8. Despite a late surge from Thompson Rivers, a series of errors, including a handling error by Daniel Hitchens, ensured UBCO maintained control. The set concluded with UBCO winning 25-14, solidifying their position in the matchup.

UBCO faced a challenging third set againstthe WolfPack, struggling to keep pace. Despite a strong kill by Weststrate early in the set, the home team found themselves trailing after a series of service errors and effective plays by TRU. A timeout was called by UBCO at 8-2 to regroup, but the visitors maintained their momentum, with Mason Sodaro and Jordan Fulljames executing critical kills.

UBCO tried to rally with kills from Manuel and van Driel, but consistent errors hindered their comeback efforts. Despite a late push, including a kill by Mika Feilberg and another by James Helfrick, TRU secured the set with a 25-19 victory. 

In the fourth set, UBCO maintained their momentum with a strong start, highlighted by Manuel's kill to secure the first point. They capitalized on the WolfPack's errors, including several service errors and attack errors, to gradually build their lead. Key contributions came from van Driel and Searcy, who executed pivotal plays to keep the score in their favor.

Despite a push from Thompson Rivers that tied the game at several points, UBCO managed to edge ahead with timely plays, including a decisive service ace by Searcy to conclude the set. The home team clinched the set 28-26.

In the decisive fifth set, UBCO surged to an early lead with a sequence of plays, including a kill by Manuel assisted by van Geel and a ball handling error by Rylan Ibbetson. This early advantage prompted two timeouts from the WolfPack. The momentum continued as van Geel delivered a crucial kill, widening the gap further. Despite some resistance from Thompson Rivers, including a kill by Fulljames, UBCO maintained control. Manuel secured the final point with a kill assisted by van Driel, sealing the set 15-11 and concluding the match.

Looking ahead, the Heat and WolfPack will square off again to conclude their weekend doubleheader on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 4:30 p.m. The match will take place at the UBCO Gymnasium and tickets for the game can be purchased online at GoHeat.ca/Tickets.

Game Notes:
- the win was the fifth consecutive for the Heat, setting a new program mark for longest winning streak since joining Canada West
- UBCO has now won seven of their last 11 meetings with the WolfPack
- van Driel recorded a season-high 13 kills
- the victory was the first in the men's Presidents' Cup competition for UBCO in 2025-26 as they now trail TRU 1-3-0. The Heat will need another win on Saturday to once again extend the series