KELOWNA, B.C. - With three weeks remaining in the 2025-26 Canada West regular season, the action ramps up this weekend as the UBCO Heat basketball and volleyball teams continue their final push for postseason positioning.

On Friday, the Heat women's basketball team will be hosting their annual Shoot for the Cure game. Raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, the proceeds from the Heat's in-game Chuck-a-Duck promotion as well as a $10 donation from every three-pointer made by the Heat will go towards their fundraising efforts. Individuals wishing to donate to the team's fund can visit their team page on the Canadian Cancer Society website.

Then on Saturday, the Heat basketball teams will be hosting the first UBCO Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night. As a thank you for all that UBCO faculty and staff do to contribute to the success of our campus, the Heat are offering admission by donation to the United Way at the door for this exciting doubleheader. While any amount is appreciated, the Heat are recommending $5 per adult and $10 per family.

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Women's Basketball 
January 30th vs Victoria Vikes - 5:30 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium 
January 31st vs Trinity Western Spartans - 6:00 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium
Tickets - GoHeat.ca/Tickets
Webcast - CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel

Coming off a weekend bye, women's basketball is back at home as the Heat host the Victoria Vikes (9-8) on Friday and the Trinity Western Spartans (13-5) on Saturday.

The Heat (8-8) have secured their fifth consecutive playoff appearance after Interior rivals Thompson Rivers dropped a pair of games last weekend. With four regular-season conference home games remaining, the team will look to improve their seeding heading into the postseason.

Both matchups will present tough tests for the Heat. Despite a hard-fought effort, UBCO dropped both of this season's road games against Victoria but earned a 97-68 home win last February. The Heat also recorded a 78-50 victory over Trinity Western in January 2025, despite falling to the Spartans in November. The Heat will aim to use home-court advantage this weekend to knock off the Vikes and Spartans once again.

Men's Basketball 
January 30th vs Victoria Vikes - 7:30 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium
January 31st vs Trinity Western Spartans - 8:00 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium 
Tickets - GoHeat.ca/Tickets
Webcast - CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel

Men's basketball (3-15) returns home this weekend after a week of rest and recovery, ready to take on the Victoria Vikes (15-2) on Friday and the Trinity Western Spartans (7-11) on Saturday.

Fans should watch for standout individual performances as the Heat chase major milestones. Jalen Shirley is having a thrilling final season, averaging over 20 points per game, and sits 37 points shy of his own single-season scoring record and 80 points away from becoming the Heat's all-time career scoring leader, with four home games remaining. Third-year veterans Isaak Moore and Lamine Conde are also on the hunt for personal single season scoring marks making this an exciting weekend to watch for the home crowd.

AWAY

Women's Volleyball 
January 30th at Mount Royal Cougars - 5:00 p.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
January 31st at Mount Royal Cougars - 6:00 p.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
Webcast - CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel

Women's volleyball travels to Calgary this weekend for a doubleheader against the Mount Royal Cougars (2-12) as the Heat (5-11) continue their push for points to improve playoff seeding and strengthen their position.

The Heat will look to Natalie Funk, who has been a key performer throughout this season. Funk helped UBCO earn two crucial points last weekend, pushing Trinity Western to five sets on both nights. She delivered a career-high performance and enters the weekend having recorded single-season career highs in kills (159) and digs (133).

Her strong play has helped move the Heat to the top of a five-way tie for ninth place, keeping the team in the playoff hunt as they continue their push towards postseason play. 

The Heat have won their last three matches against Mount Royal, dating back to 2023, and will look to continue that streak this weekend.

Men's Volleyball 
January 30th at Mount Royal Cougars - 7:00 p.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
January 31st at Mount Royal Cougars - 4:00 p.m. (PT) - Calgary, Alta.
Webcast - CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel

The U SPORTS No. 3-ranked men's volleyball team will hit the road this weekend as they travel to Calgary to take on the Mount Royal Cougars (6-8).

Last weekend, the Heat split their series against the No. 2-ranked Trinity Western Spartans, highlighted by a massive five-set upset victory on Seniors Night. Graduating senior and team captain Zach van Geel delivered an outstanding performance in his final regular-season home games to earn Canada West Athlete of the Week honours.

In Friday's five-set matchup, van Geel recorded 45 assists and 10 digs, followed by a clutch performance on Saturday with 52 assists, 12 digs, and 5 aces. The fifth-year setter now sits third in Canada West in assists (579) and second in digs among setters (128), ranking second overall in the conference at his position.

The Heat will enter the weekend riding a four-game win streak against Mount Royal, including a 3-0 sweep earlier this season in October in exhibition play.