KELOWNA, B.C. – Even with Max Heppell‘s game-high 13 kills on Saturday night, it was the balanced attack of the Manitoba Bisons that pushed the Herd past the Heat in the rematch on the UBC Okanagan gym floor.
The Bisons had five players with five or more kills in the three-set victory. UBCO has dropped their first four matches and see their record fall to (0-4), while the weekend sweep of the Heat brings Manitoba to (3-1) for their campaign.
The first two sets were led start to finish by the Bisons. The third set saw UBCO come back after the technical time out and pull even at 16-16. The Heat had the lead twice, reaching 20 and 23 first, but much like throughout the match untimely errors prevented a run. The Bisons needed one extra point, and eventually took the set and the match in three.
In total UBCO committed 40 errors compared to Manitoba’s 22.
Heppell recorded six of his 13 kills in the first stanza but was outmatched by Manitoba’s stable offense as the Bison took the frame (25-21).
The second set was handled by the Bisons who went on a (6-1) run to close it out. UBCO committed 13 errors in the set.
The Heat would battle to recapture the lead at (23-22). With the match all squared at 24, Kevin Negus would record his eighth kill and Owen Schwartz his seventh to close out the match in the Bisons’ favour.
It was Jack Mandryk running the varied offence for the Bisons, the first-year setter went for a match-high 24 assists spreading the ball to his five teammates. Jon Laube spun four aces in the match and his 10.5 points led his Bisons squad.
Cam Vanderveen continues his hot start, the sophomore reached double digits in kills for the third straight match. He put down 11 kills in 29 attempts, and his nine digs trailed only Denham O’Reilly (13), and Heppell (10) for UBCO.
The Heat will now play on the road for the first time this conference season as they take on Mount Royal (2-3) in Calgary next weekend. Their first match starts at 5 p.m. PST on Friday night.
Manitoba has their bye weekend and then will return to action in two weeks when they take on the top-ranked Trinity Western Spartans (4-1) on their home court.
All action can be watched live on Canada West tv presented by Co-op.
[SOURCE: UBC Okanagan]