KELOWNA, B.C. — The UBCO Heat women's volleyball team (3-7) gave the first-place Thompson Rivers WolfPack (8-2) all they could handle on Friday night at the UBCO Gymnasium, taking them to five sets but just falling short by scores of 13-25, 25-18, 25-14, 20-25, 10-15.
Kylan Finseth was instrumental with 35 assists and bolstered the defence with five total blocks for the Heat.
Natalie Funk led the offence with 13 kills and three aces, totalling 17.5 points.
Marija Josipovic added 13 kills with a .361 hitting percentage and contributed 11 digs.
Ali Rathlef chipped in with nine kills, maintaining a .400 hitting percentage, alongside four total blocks.
Libby Meldrum was a key figure for the WolfPack, delivering 47 assists and four service aces, significantly impacting the team's performance. Her defensive play included six total blocks. Olivia Andulajevic anchored the defence with 17 digs across five games, showcasing her reliability in the libero role. Rida Erlalelitepe shone on the offensive front, leading with 18 kills and a hitting percentage of .295, amassing 18 points.
TRU took the first set 25-13 against the Heat, capitalizing on a strong service game. TRU notched five service aces, with Meldrum delivering three consecutive aces during a crucial stretch that widened their lead. UBCO struggled with attack errors, which allowed TRU to maintain momentum and efficiently close the set.
UBCO rebounded in the second set, winning 25-18, by capitalizing on TRU's attacking errors. The Heat's defensive blocks, particularly by Finseth and Rathlef, forced multiple errors from TRU, while Josipovic's offensive contributions, including four kills, kept UBCO in control. The Heat also gained momentum from two service aces, offsetting efforts by TRU's Maria Dancheva, who added three kills for the visitors.
In the third set, UBCO capitalized on TRU's errors to clinch a 25-14 victory. The Heat's defensive efforts shone with effective blocking from Finseth and Gardner, contributing to several TRU attack errors, including three in a pivotal stretch that expanded the lead. Offensively, Josipovic and Funk led with timely kills, while two service aces bolstered their momentum.
Thompson Rivers regained momentum in the fourth set, extending their lead to 8-4 early on. Meldrum's consistent setting enabled Erlalelitepe to secure multiple kills, boosting TRU's offensive strength. Despite service aces from the Heat, TRU maintained control, closing the set 25-20 with a final kill by Keira Gent.
In the fifth set, TRU jumped out to an early lead. The Heat looked to rally through both Rathlef and Gardner but the WolfPack held onto the lead. Controversy erupted late in the set on a net violation call that went against the host Heat. UBCO would gain momentum immediately after the miss but multiple kills by TRU's Erlalelitepe helped the visitors hold onto their lead for the win.
Looking ahead, the Heat will challenge the Brandon Bobcats on Friday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. in Brandon, Man., as they wrap up their first term of action. Fans can catch the game live on CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel.
Game Notes:
- Rathlef and Josipovic each recorded a new career-high for kills in a match
- the WolfPack win evens the 2025-26 women's Presidents' Cup race as UBCO and TRU are tied at 2-2-1. This year's trophy will be decided by basketball in Kamloops in January.
