~ Grayson Leahy // Heat communications

KELOWNA, BC –  After losing a tough first set 25-14 on Friday night in the UBC Okanagan gymnasium, the UBC Okanagan Heat won the next three sets 25-14, 25-20, and 25-21, to hand the University of Alberta Pandas women's volleyball team their second loss of the season. With Alberta coming into the match ranked No. 1 in the CIS Top Ten, the Heat have a chance to take the top spot.

Set scores: 3-1, (14-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-21)

While every one of the sets was close, with the two top-ranked teams trading leads throughout, the Heat were able to pull away at the end of each of the final three straight sets thanks to a steady barrage of attacks, notching 50 kills to the Pandas' 40 for the match. That power was provided for the most part by Brianna Beamish (14 kills), Michelle Jakszuk (12 kills), Megan Festival (11 kills), and Katie Wuttunee (9 kills).

Meg Casault and Karly Janssen led the Pandas offence, with 14 and eight kills respectively. Alberta's defensive effort was led by Shauntelle Hogg, who had five total blocks, and Karly Janssen, who had four.

The Pandas came out swinging in the first set, and won the frame with strong play at the net and serving; they tallied five service aces in the set. For the match the Pandas finished with eight aces, four by Casault and three by Hogg.

Rallying from an 0-1 set score, the Heat put together a string of nine straight points in the middle of the second set to take a 10 point lead. They took the second set by the same score as the Pandas had taken the first, led by the offensive production from Festival, who notched five kills in the set.

The third set saw the Heat and the Pandas stay within a point or two of each other for the better part of the set, with neither team stringing together more than three points in a row. Offence in the set was led by Michelle Jakszuk, with five kills for the Heat, and Meg Casault, who had four kills and two service aces.

The final set saw both teams swinging for the fences. The Pandas totalled 13 kills in the fourth, and the Heat had 14. Of those 14 for UBC Okanagan, six came from Brianna Beamish.

Through the three straight set wins to seal the match, the Heat didn't let the Pandas break set point once. The third and fourth sets were close, but once they had a chance to put it away, the Heat didn't let up.

While the Heat continued to swing away throughout the match, the Pandas adapted to the strong play at the net, seeming to switch up their game plan and making effective use of tips and rolls to throw the Heat out of rhythm at times. Their defence helped keep the match tight as well, with a final tally of eight blocks and 65 digs for the Pandas.

With the win over the Pandas, the Heat remain in first place in Canada West with a record of 14-1, the Pandas slip to 13-2. These two national contenders face off against each other again tomorrow, Saturday January 16th, first serve at 5 p.m. (PST).