KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball squad had the pleasure of hosting for the final regular season match of the year Saturday night, and they would coast in straight sets versus the shorthanded Brandon Bobcats (25-15, 25-20, 25-19).
It was senior's night at UBC Okanagan gymnasium, who recognized fifth-year outside hitter Myrte Schön (Langley, BC) for her outstanding contributions. She wound up with three kills and six digs off the bench.
Fourth-year Brianna Beamish (Surrey, BC) led all attackers with 11 kills and dug up ten balls along the way.
The Bobcats were left without the services of second-year New Zealand product Vaovai Aiono, who did not dress for the night. She had led her team a night prior with 11 kills.
Picking up the slack in Saturday's duel of budding rivals was fourth-year leftside Shanlee McLennan (Winnipeg, MB), who did a bit of everything to finish with a team-high eight kills, four service aces, and seven digs.
A concerted defensive effort at the net kept things interesting for Brandon in the second set, where they would come closest to the Heat though ultimately falling by five points. The Bobcats and Heat tied with 12 block assists total, though the latter also had three solo blocks to win the defensive battle therein.
Excellent pressure from the service line kept by the Heat kept their opponents off balance all match long. The Okanagan squad recorded ten service aces with setter Chandler Proch (Kelowna, BC) leading the way with three.
The Bobcats won several more longer rallies than not, with the Heat capitalizing early on most of the time with either a deft serve or else a strong hit from the wings that would find gaps in their defenders' arms.
Brandon's Donata Huebert led the match with 18 digs.
UBC Okanagan now completes the 2014-15 season with a 19-5 record, the 19 wins breaks the Heat's previous high of 15 wins set in 2013-13. With the new high water mark in wins for the club will have the Heat tied for 1st in Canada West yet with the tie breaker system in Canada West the Heat will be the third ranked team entering the postseason. Brandon meanwhile slips to 13-11, good for sixth or possibly the seventh seed in the conference.
Brandon will finish seventh if Manitoba can win its thirteenth Sunday versus MacEwan and will travel to Langley to play Trinity Western, the No. 2 seed. If Manitoba losses tomorrow Brandon will be back here for the quarter finals this Fri-Sun.
If Manitoba wins tomorrow they will travel to Kelowna for the quarter-final matchup with UBC Okanagan.
The Canada West Quarter final, a best-of-three, will take place at UBC Okanagan regardless of opponent on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday night's match will get underway 6 p.m. in the UBC Okanagan gymnasium.
Watch the playoff action online and stream live stats at canadawest.tv.