Canada West’s newest men’s volleyball member, UBC Okanagan Heat, has released its 2011-12 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) schedule.
The Heat will play 20 regular-season matches, including 12 preseason exhibition matches, with 14 appearances at UBCO Gym.
Highlighting the schedule are matches against four teams that competed in last year’s national championships, and five teams ranked in the CIS top-10.
The Heat open the 2011 exhibition slate by hosting the University of Alberta Golden Bears Friday, Sept. 23 and the Trinity Western University Spartans of Langley the following night.
UBCO begins Canada West play by hosting the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Oct. 28-29. The following weekend, the Heat host their big brother, the UBC Thunderbirds of Vancouver.
Head coach Greg Poitras, in his seventh season with the program, welcomes the return of four starters from the 2011 CCAA national silver medalists, including Vernon products Preston Tucker, CCAA National Player of the Year, and Greg Niemantsverdriet.
The Heat men start training camp Monday.
