BRANDON, Man. — The U SPORTS No. 6-ranked UBCO Heat men's volleyball team (11-1) will head into the holiday break in first place in Canada West following a thrilling five-set victory against the Brandon Bobcats (3-7) on Saturday night. 

The Heat's formidable defence was on display with a total of 15.5 blocks, proving crucial as they set a team record for most wins in a Canada West season.

Zach van Geel set the tempo with 52 assists and pitched in five blocks. Seba Manuel was the top scorer for the team with 19 kills and three service aces, amassing 23.5 points. Thys Weststrate was highly efficient with 17 kills on a .517 hitting percentage and led the blocking tally with nine total blocks. Xander van Driel bolstered the offence with 15 kills and contributed nine digs to the defensive effort.

For the Bobcats, Kale Fisher played a vital role, delivering 51 assists over five sets, crucial to their offensive strategy. Riley Brunet showcased his defensive prowess with seven blocks and added eight kills on a .429 hitting percentage.

The encounter started with the Heat quickly finding their rhythm, thanks to Manuel, who opened the scoring with a kill assisted by van Geel. The Heat kept up the pressure, with key contributions from Mika Feilberg and van Driel, keeping the score tight.

Midway through the first set, the Heat capitalized on several Bobcat errors, gaining a slight edge. A key moment came when van Driel and James Helfrick combined for a block, helping the Heat secure a small lead. As the set wound down, van Geel and Manuel sealed the set decisively, finishing with a 25-19 lead for the Heat.

UBCO kicked off the second set with a strong start, taking an early 3-0 lead with a service ace by van Geel and a kill from Weststrate. The Bobcats fought back, leveling the score multiple times, making it a tight contest. Manuel was pivotal, delivering crucial kills, including one to tie it at 23-23. Despite their efforts, the Heat narrowly lost the set 27-25.

The third set saw the Heat begin with a strong run, leveraging Bobcat errors to establish an 8-4 lead, highlighted by a block from Feilberg and Weststrate. Despite Brandon's attempts to close the gap, Manuel's relentless attacks, often set up by van Geel, kept UBCO in front, reaching a 21-17 advantage.

As the set progressed, the Bobcats rallied with a series of kills from Tom Friesen and Liam Pauls, eventually tying it at 22-22. The Heat regained a slight edge at 24-22, but Brandon snatched the final points, taking the set 26-24.

UBCO's fourth set was marked by strategic play, overcoming a series of service errors. Manuel started with a kill, capitalizing on a setup from van Geel, and Weststrate added pressure with a block, pushing the Heat to a 3-1 lead. Despite a back-and-forth exchange, the Heat maintained a slight edge, as Weststrate's frequent kills and van Geel's assists were vital.

Brandon rallied to tie the game at 24-24, but a crucial kill by Weststrate and a block by Manuel and van Geel sealed the set. The Heat concluded with a 26-24 victory.

In the decisive fifth set, the Heat's victory was highlighted by a critical sequence of three consecutive service aces by Manuel, extending their lead to 13-8. Weststrate was instrumental with multiple kills, aided by van Geel, maintaining the lead despite intermittent points by the Bobcats. The set concluded with a kill by van Driel, assisted by van Geel, finalizing the score at 15-12. 

The Heat will now break for a month for exams and holidays before returning to Canada West action in January 2026. The team will host the Calgary Dinos (4-6) on home court on Friday, January 9 with first serve set for 7:30 p.m. Fans can get their tickets for the game at GoHeat.ca/Tickets.

Game Notes:
- van Geel set a new career-high with 52 assists in the win
- Weststrate's 17 kills were a new career-high
- James Tse's 13 digs were his most in a Heat uniform
- UBCO's new team record for wins in a season surpasses the previous record of 10 set back in the 2021-22 season when they went 10-6 in the Covid-shortened campaign
- the Heat extended their team record win streak in Canada West play to eight games