VANCOUVER – The UBCO Heat women's volleyball team had their season come to an end on Saturday night as they lost in straight sets to the U SPORTS No. 2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds 15-25, 17-25 and 19-25.
 
Leading the way for UBCO was third-year outside hitter Marija Josipovic who posted six kills, four blocks and two aces for 10 points. Setter Kylan Finseth recorded 14 assists and 12 digs while Ali Rathlef added five kills and three blocks.
 
Meanwhile, a balanced Thunderbirds attack was led by nine kills from Lucy Borowski and Aimee Skinner chipped with with eight.
 
The first set opened well for the Heat as they took an early 4-1 lead through kills from Josipovic and Madison Gardner. The Thunderbirds would respond with a pair of lengthy runs before a Borowski kill handed them the opening frame.
 
The second set saw the Heat go point-for-point with the Thunderbirds as key kills from Faith Solecki and Gardner gave the visitors a 13-12 advantage. UBC responded with an 8-1 run to seize control of the set and they closed it out with an ace to go up two sets over UBCO.
 
UBCO would continue to fight through the third set as they stayed within a point of the Thunderbirds through timely kills supplied by Korey Jenkins. Similar to the second, however, UBC took over the set through the middle portion, framed by a 9-4 run. The Heat tried to rally but another Borowski kill would end the match in favour of the hosts.
 
The match turned out to be the final one for UBCO's three graduating seniors as Natalie Funk, Madison Gardner and Chloe Ladd all suited up for the final time in Heat blue and gold.