WINNIPEG - The UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team saw their season come to an end on Friday night as they fell to the Manitoba Bisons 3-1 in game two of their best-of-three Canada West play-in series. 

The Heat secured a win in the first set 25-22, but Manitoba responded by taking the next three sets 25-19, 25-19, and 25-19. UBCO recorded 42 kills and a hitting percentage of .204, while the Bisons had 48 kills with a .256 hitting percentage. The Heat tallied 41 assists and four aces, compared to Manitoba's 48 assists and 11 aces.

Zach van Geel led the Heat with standout performances in setting, serving, and defence. van Geel accumulated 36 assists, a new career-high of four service aces, as well as a career-high with 15 digs over four games, highlighting his versatility on the court. Seba Manuel also made a significant impact with a game-high 15 kills and a team-high 15 points, achieving an attack percentage of .375 across the sets. Thys Weststrate contributed defensively with a team-leading five total blocks, including one solo block and four block assists, showcasing strength at the net.

The Bisons featured several standout players including Karil Dadash Adeh who was a key contributor with 14 kills and led the team with 17.5 points. Sammy Ludwig was notable for his setting skills, accumulating 40 assists over four games. Jordon Heppner was a strong defensive presence, recording a team-high nine blocks. Owen Weekes shone in serving, delivering four aces and tying for the team lead with 17.5 points.

For the second night in a row, the Heat took set one. Van Geel facilitated the offence brilliantly, with 11 assists and five different players recording a kill.
 
Seba Manuel and Lucas Woelders combined for seven kills, including a few smashes from the back row.
 
Manitoba took their first lead at 12-11, and went on a big run after, paced by back-to-back Spencer Grahame aces and a kill off hands where the ball flew into the stands for a 15-12 lead, but eight attacking errors and four serving errors allowed the Heat to battle back.
 
The visitors scored eight of the following nine points, and Manuel gave his side a 21-17 lead off a pipe attack, with UBCO holding on the rest of the way for the set win.
 
The nation's best serving team put the pressure on in set two, generating an early lead at the line which they never relinquished.
 
The country's leader in aces, Dadash Adeh put down two, while Weekes added a third, painting the left corner brilliantly to give his side a 10-5 lead. Dadash Adeh added his second three points later.
 
The Heat got an ace from van Geel, while Thys Weststrate contributed on his third assisted block of the game in the early portions of the second, but the hosts consistently had the answer winning the set by six.
 
Service pressure continued to be a factor in set three. Grahame's third ace blew a close game open, as Manitoba took a 7-5 lead and scored seven of the next 11 points.
 
The Heat continued to play inspired defence, including a pancake dig from libero Stephen Searcy (seventh of the game) that led to a Bisons error, cutting Manitoba's lead to 21-18.
 
But Dadash Adeh had the response with his tenth kill from the right, and Manitoba won the set by six.
 
A Jonah Dueck ace, the ninth of the game for Manitoba, helped the hosts take a 6-1 lead in set four. The Heat got within three following a Weststrate and van Geel block to make it 8-5, but the hosts had the response.
 
Dadash Adeh went cross-court from the right, and one play later he dove to the ground for the one-handed dig, with Sammy Ludwig and Heppner combining for a block right after as Manitoba took a 17-10 lead.
 
Manuel continued to be a factor in the front row, hitting above .300 on the night, but Manitoba's service pressure was too much.
 
Weekes put down his third and fourth aces to make it 22-14, as the Bisons won the fourth by six.

"They did what we expected them to do. We know they can serve. What we talked about, was we can't match their service pressure, but we can't miss serves," said Heat head coach Scott Koskie.
 
"We got into that during the series in Kelowna. Not that we missed a lot, but we just missed [serves] at the wrong time. It's hard. You play a team that has that much service pressure, you give them that much of a window, then it's hard and you're kind of chasing."

The result brings to a close a remarkable turnaround season for the Heat who posted a 9-11 regular season record after winning just three games the season before. With just one graduating senior in Aaron Voth, the future looks very bright for a team that will return all of their starters next season with talent additions on the way.