It was a tough start to a four-game road trip for the Heat women as the Manitoba Bisons got the win over the visitors on Saturday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre.
Fuelled by a .312 hitting percentage, Bisons captured all three sets by scores of: 25-12, 25-14 and 25-17.
Individually for the Heat senior Ann Richards led the team in kills with seven while Sydney Grills had six put-aways for UBCO.
The Heat hit just .086 for the match as they were unable to get past the big Bisons block.
Middle Jocelyn Koswinpaced the hosts with 12 kills and a .688 hitting percentage, while the team had 14 service aces total compared to just one service ace for the visitors.
The Heat (2-14) will continue their road trip next weekend when they travel to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds. The Bisons (8-8) will travel to Saskatoon for a road tilt with the Huskies.
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First set:
The hosts erupted to an early 8-2 lead in the first set, forcing UBCO to take a quick timeout. The Abbott sisters played a huge role in reference to the score, combining for four service aces.
Performance at the service line continued to be a factor at the technical timeout, with the Bisons up 16-5. Setter Kelsey Jordan and left side Laura Findlay added to Manitoba’s numbers in that department in what resulted in a quick 25-12 win.
Aidan Lea was UBCO’s biggest threat, tallying four kills, however, she couldn’t keep pace with the seven kills from Koswin, whose hitting percentage was a ridiculous .778. As a team, Manitoba, hit a strong .333 while the Heat managed a .167 percentage in the frame.
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Second set:
The hosts erupted to an early 11-4 lead in the second set on the strength of two more Findlay service aces, however, UBCO clawed back, reducing the deficit to as little as three thanks to strong play at the net from middle Sadie Taylor-Parks. She had a kill and two blocks, one of which was solo.
But the Bisons firepower was too much, as they took a 16-10 lead at the technical timeout and surrendered just four points after in a second set win. Libero Cassie Bujanhad counted six digs in the set and 13 after two, making her presence felt on some big rallies, while Koswinadded had three more kills, and continued to hit the stuffing out of the ball with a .833 hitting percentage.
Third set:
The Heat had their first lead of the set at 2-1 and looked confident at the net, thanks in part to outside hitter Sydney Grills, who produced six kills overall.
Manitoba continued to put the pressure on at the service line, however, getting two in that department from Findlay and one from middle Allison Alcock, who also hit .857 overall. They led 16-12 at the technical timeout and again took control in the latter stage of the set for a win.
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