UBC Okanagan Athletics Scoreboard

Heat shake off rust, back to usual selves to dominate Cascades 3-0

Saturday January 15, 2011

UBC Okanagan Gym - Kelowna BC

UBC Okanagan Heat (9-1)  defeats the University of Fraser Valley Cascades (2-5) in 3 straight sets.

(25-17, 25-14, 25-20)

·         Caitlin Nyhus was name the Landmark Cinema - Eastside Mario’s Heat Player of the Game

KELOWNA, BC – The Women’s Volleyball team got off to a much stronger and more concerted start Saturday night than in their previous night’s matchup as they handled the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades three sets to none.   Caitlin Nyhus was named the Landmark Cinemas/Eastside Mario’s Player of the Game. 

There was no waiting to get into an offensive flow as the Heat poured on the offensive pressure right from the get-go.   Before the game, Head Coach Steve Manuel had listed that a key for them was “controlling the first contact…to run our offense.  If we pass well then we’ll be very difficult to play against.”

The Heat lived up to the goal they set out for themselves, out-hitting their opponents in a near 2:1 ratio.  Any rustiness from winter break that the team exhibited against the Columbia Bible College Bearcats the night before was totally absent against the Cascades.  The Heat totally controlled the first set, being up by as much as 21-8 at one point, eventually closing it out 25-17. 

UFV turned out the defensive intensity in the 3rd set, notching the first point and moving to a 10-5 advantage.  Smart play rewarded the Heat in the long run and enable them to fight back to even the score 12-12.  In the face of an impressive defensive effort, including  several blocks (the Cascades tallied three more blocks on the night than the Heat), they changed it up to send several timely tips just over UFV’s blockers.  After tying the set up at 12’s the Heat never looked back, moving to pull away 25-20, closing out the set and the match sweep.

“[Tonight] was tenfold better,” Kaylan Gouldsborough said of the match, comparing it to the previous night’s slow start against the Bearcats. “We were focused more tonight in the team room before the game.” 

The Heat’s collective and balanced effort kept them in control the entire match, in turn setting their opposition out-of-sync and off balance.  The Cascades suffered three consecutive points against in a row due to miscommunication errors that led to easy scores for the Heat.  UBC Okanagan ran away to win the set with their highest margin of the night, 25-14. 

Several injuries have marred the team throughout the season, and according to Player of the Game Caitlin Nyhus, the night’s starting line-up was only the “second or third time” they’ve used the line-up all season.  Coach Manuel had made mention before the game that “For the first time since the start of the season we are healthy, and other than one ankle injury I would say that we are as close to 100% as possible.”  The Heat hope to stay healthy and continue jelling as the BCCAA Championships quickly approach, which this years is being hosted by UBC Okanagan.

The volleyball teams go on the road next weekend to the coast to play against Capilano College Friday and Douglas College on Saturday.  Their next home game is Friday, February 4th, which is also their last weekend of League play before the BCCAA Championships, which are being held February 24-26th.