KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okaganan Heat women’s volleyball team beat out the University of Alberta Panda’s Friday night in four sets (14-25,25-14,25-20,25-21).
The Panda’s came in to the match ranked first in Canadian InterUniversity Sport (CIS), the Heat third.
“It’s sort of a knock ’em down, dram ’em out when we’re out there on the floor,” says Heat Coach Steve Manuel of the two teams rivalry.
Friday night’s game at UBCO begins five weekends worth of tournaments toward playoffs.
“This squad is poised to continue that success and hopefully we can go all the way,” says Manuel of his team’s goal to be first in the country.
Players believe Manuel will witness the success he has dreamed about since the team joined the CIS five years ago.
“I have a really good feeling about it,” says Chandler Proch, a sixth year HEAT veteran. “Everybody has a really good feeling about it. It’s not super nervous, it’s just more excited.”
“Our whole team, we all know what we’re doing and we all just put in that 10% and that’s what we need to win,” says sixth year veteran libero Kailyn Jones of the equal team effort.
“I feel good about it,” says second year rookie Sophia Furlan. “We have a really great chemistry going on, so it’s fun to be here.”
“We have such great hitters and a great offence and also just a good serves and passes so really we have everything we need to beat them,” says Skye Thompson, a UBCO Heat redshirt.
While this is the first time the Heat and Pandas met in regular season play, the two teams know each other well, practicing together in the off season.
We help each other get better until we actually meet up against each other,” says Manuel.
The rival teams play again Saturday at 5 p.m. at the UBCO campus gym, nick named The Furnace.
The Heat women’s volleyball team finished last season in a three way tie for first place.
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