The UBC Okanagan women's volleyball squad didn't lose any traction over the holiday season as Steve Manuel's Heat opened 2016 with a clean sweep in Winnipeg.
The No. 3 ranked Heat ran its Canada West winning streak to eight games on the weekend with a pair of convincing victories over the hometown Manitoba Bisons.
On Friday, UBCO toppled the Bisons 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-12) in the first match of the new semester.
In a bonafide team attack by the Heat, Breanna Beamish had seven kills and 10 digs, as all but two players recorded kills in the match.
Katy Klomps added six kills and six digs as UBCO controlled the match throughout.
On Saturday afternoon, it was more of the same as the Heat again rolled over Manitoba 3-0 (25-26, 25-13, 25-16).
The Heat's Michelle Jakszuk and Katie Wuttunee put up 13 and 12 kills, respectively, while setter Emily Oxland finished the match with 38 assists.
The sweep pulls the Heat into a three-way tie for first with Alberta and Trinity Western, who split on the weekend, with all teams at 13-1.
UBC was idle and also sits with just one loss at 11-1.
UBC Okanagan will play those teams—Alberta, UBC, TWU—twice each in the next six conference games over a four-week span.
First up is Alberta who the Heat will battle this weekend at the Kelowna campus gym, on Friday and Saturday nights.
Heat men
The UBCO Okanagan men came up empty on their first weekend of 2016, losing a pair of matches to the host Manitoba Bisons.
On Friday, the Heat was swept in three straight, 25-13, 25-21, 25-15.
Rookie Devon Cote Rookie Devon Cote received the start for the Heat and finished with five kills and five digs. Leo Schober, the 6-foot-7 middle. also had five kills and added three blocks.
On Saturday, the Heat managed to win the first set but went on to lose the match 3-1 (17-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-9).
Alex Swiatlowski led the Heat with 11 kills, while Eli Risso had eight digs.
The Heat (3-11) will host the Alberta Golden Bears this Friday and Saturday.