UBC Okanagan Heat Athletics Scoreboard

Heat get energized versus Chargers

Men's Volleyball

Friday February 4, 2011

UBC Okanagan Gym - Kelowna BC

UBC Okanagan Heat (12-1) beat the Camosun College Chargers (2-10) 3 sets to 1.

(25-18, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17)

·         Preston Tucker named the Landmark Cinema - Eastside Mario’s Heat Player of the Game

KELOWNA, BC – In their second last League game of the season, the Men’s Volleyball team played host to the Camosun College Chargers in their second meeting this season, coming away with a 3-1 match win. Preston Tucker was named the Landmark Cinemas/East Side Mario’s Player of the Game, with 38 assists, 4 digs and 4 blocks. 

There were impressive digs from either side that led to long, hard fought rallies between the two teams all match long. Both the Chargers and Heat combined for 60 digs (31 for the Chargers, 29 for the Heat). The Heat’s offensive prowess was on display the entire match but resilient Chargers receiving kept them in the mix for the first two sets. With a few timely tips over the Heat’s frontline, the Chargers stayed close but were unable to keep up with the Heat as they took the first and second sets 25-18 and 25-21 respectively.   

The Chargers came out fighting even harder in the 3^rd set, going point-for-point with the Heat until they came out to a slight 12-10 lead, their first lead of 2 points or more in the match. Though down in a 2-0 hole, the Chargers built some momentum and, using a number of key defensive plays, they managed to upset the Heat’s offense a bit and avoid a match sweep by winning the set 25-18 to force a 4^th set. “We had a decline in our excitement, our energy on the court,” said Colten Litwin after the match in regards to their slip in the 3^rd set. The Heat definitely had a boost of energy between the 3^rd and 4^th sets, leading most of the way en route to their 25-17 clinching of the match. 

“It’s definitely a key factor [excitement and energy],” continued Litwin, “getting excited on the court, knowing that each point is a big point.” Having to get more enthused on the court has been a recurring theme for the team this year, with it becoming a prioritized goal for the team coming out of Winter Break. Litwin, playing his 1^st year for the Heat as starting Libero, also said the team needs to keep “the excitement level high.”

The atmosphere was not lacking energy Friday evening, with the Senior’s Night celebration for the Women’s team not long before the Men’s game, where a special ceremony commemorating 5^th year Caitlin Nyhus’ accomplishments over the last half-decade was held. The Men’s team has no seniors graduating this year, but still has a few veteran leaders that are looked to for help steering the team. 4^th year Setter Preston Tucker is first among them, according to Litwin. “It’s really good to have a guy like him who knows how to lead the team very well… on and off the court. He knows that he needs to show us young guys how it is.” 

Tucker, the consistent facilitator and set-up artist for the high-powered offense of the Heat, was recently named the BCCAA Athlete of the Week, which was his first time receiving the honour this season.

With another win under UBC Okanagan’s belt extending their winning streak to 11 matches as the Heat haven’t suffered a loss to since their week 1 matchup versus UFV, the team is heading into their last League game of the season against the 3^rd place VIU Mariners tomorrow. The match starts at 7:45pm, following the Women’s match.