The UBC Okanagan Heat will push the reset button this coming weekend when they visit the University of Winnipeg in Canada West women’s volleyball.
Steve Manuel’s squad is looking to rebound from a three-game slide, the program’s longest losing stretch since January 2014.
The Heat is coming off a two-game sweep at the hands of the UBC Thunderbirds, the first time UBCO had lost two conference matches on the same weekend.
On Friday in Vancouver, the T’Birds cruised to a straight-set victory (25-19, 25-19, 25-16) in the Heat’s first match since the winter break.
It was the first time UBCO was swept in a match since Jan. 31, 2014.
UBC’s Danielle Brisebois led all hitters in the match, putting away 15 kills.
For the Heat, Megan Festival finished with seven kills, while Aidan Lea and Shiobhan Fitzpatrick earned six each. Festival also led all servers in the match with three aces
On Saturday, the Heat avoided a sweep but still went down to defeat, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 25-15.
Brisebois again set the pace with 16 kills for UBC.
Fitzpatrick led the Heat attack with nine kills, while Michelle Jakszuk and Megan Festival had seven and six kills, respectively.
With the losses, the Heat (8-4) slips into fifth spot in Canada West.
UBC Okanagan will visit the Winnipeg Wesmen (1-11) on Friday and Saturday.
Heat men…
The Heat men pushed hard in their first Canada West action of the new year, but still came up empty in two matches against the Thunderbirds at War Memorial Gymnasium.
On Friday, the Thunderbirds prevailed in five, hard-fought sets, 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 18-25, 15-5.
Alex Swiatlowski led UBCO with 19 kills, while Lars Bornemann added 10.
On Saturday, the T-Birds took care of the Heat 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-23).
Swiatlowski, Bornemann, and Devon Cote led the Heat with seven, six, and five kills, respectively.
The Heat (4-8) will travel to Winnipeg this weekend for two matches against the Wesmen (4-8).