Tyler Crayston, Brandon University Athletics

BRANDON – It was déjà vu all over again for the Bobcats.
 
The BU men's volleyball team completed a Canada West weekend sweep of the UBC Okanagan Heat by upending the visitors in straight sets for a second straight night.
 
Saturday saw the third-ranked Bobcats beat the Heat by scores 25-22, 25-23 and 25-17.
 
Brandon's first big burst of momentum came late the opening set when they grabbed a 19-13 lead thanks to an 8-2 run. UBCO made things interesting by staving off the first set point, but they got no closer than that.
 
The second set saw the Bobcats lead 16-11 at the technical timeout, before UBCO's offence started to cook. They collected six straight points to give the Heat a slim 17-16 advantage. It looked bleak for the Bobcats as they trailed 23-21, but they never threw in the towel. BU rallied with four straight points to push UBC Okanagan to the brink.
 
In the third, BU's 7-2 run midway through was just the shot of momentum they needed to put the match out of reach.
 
Elliott Viles and Seth Friesen fired up the Brandon offence with 12 kills apiece. Daven Pascal added eight kills, while Reece Dixon delivered a match-high 32 assists.
 
The Bobcats' record stands at 12-and-4 going into a huge road series against the second-ranked UBC Thunderbirds this coming weekend.
 
Meanwhile, UBCO has lost six straight and sit at 5-and-11. The Heat head back to the prairies on January 26-27 when they visit the Saskatchewan Huskies.

(Photo courtesy: Milana Paddock)