A convincing weekend sweep of the Regina Cougars boosted the UBC Okanagan Heat women’s volleyball squad into a three-way tie for top spot in Canada West.
Steve Manuel’s Heat share the conference lead with UBC and Calgary, with all three teams sporting 8-2 records.
UBCO and the Dinos will meet head on for two matches next weekend at the Unversity of Calgary.
Coming off a bye week, the Heat showed no signs of rust in dropping the Cougars 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-20) on Friday night the UBCO gym.
Michelle Jakszuk led the way for the home side with nine kills along with a team-high six total blocks.
Aidan Lea came into the game leading the conference in hitting percentage and continued her strong play, finishing with seven kills and a .385 hitting percentage.
Ann Richards would have five kills in the match along with three total blocks, three digs and two service aces, while Sarah McCreary had a team-high 24 assists. Siobhan Fitzpatrick delivered three service aces.
On Saturday, another solid effort for the Heat in a 3-1 victory (27-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-17) over Regina (5-7).
Ann Richards was at her best in the match, finishing with team-highs in kills (16) and hitting percentage (.500), while adding nine digs, an ace and three blocks.
Aidan Lea chipped in with 15 kills, while Siobhan Fitzpatrick had 13.
McCreary was steady once again, finishing with 47 assists, 10 digs, and a service ace.
Heat men sweep Regina…
The Heat men showed no mercy on the visitors, sweeping both weekend matches from Regina (1-11).
UBCO, now 5-5 on the season, prevailed 3-1 in a right match on Friday night (25-16, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24).
Lars Borneman, the Heat’s fifth-year outside hitter, led the match with 18 kills, while Eli Risso had a match-high 16 digs.
Devon Cote and Jon Russo had 12 kills apiece, while rookie setter Morgan Nichols had his best performance in a Heat uniform with a career-high 45 assists and seven digs.
On Saturday, the Heat dropped the opening set, then rallied back for another 3-1 victory (22-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23).
Among the highlights for Heat was Bornemann’s first dig of the night which made him the first member of the 1,000-500 club for kills and digs. Bornemann has 1080 career kills, one of only two men to surpass 1,000 kills (Nate Speijer had 1,260 kills). Bornemann is the first Heat player to tally more than 500 digs and now has 509.
Bornemann was the best hitter of the night for the Heat tallying 17 kills. Devon Cote and Jon Russo rounded out the Heat’s top three hitters, with 14 kills apiece.
Defensively, it was Eli Risso with a team-high 12 digs and Caleb Funk with a team-high two total blocks.
The Heat return to action this coming weekend when they visit the Calgary Dinos (7-3).
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