KELOWNA, B.C. – An outstanding performance from Cam Vanderveen would not be enough on Saturday night as the Heat fell in four sets to visiting Alberta Golden Bears.
Vanderveen would finish with 19 kills in the match, tying his career-high from last season. Alberta’s Jordan Canham would have 19 put-aways of his own on the night while outside hitter Jackson Kennedy was not far behind with 18.
The loss drops UBCO to (0-2) on the season while Alberta improves their record to (3-1) early in both squads Canada West campaigns.
Both teams would struggle from the service line on Saturday night as each squad finished with 19 errors from the line, and combined for just nine aces.
Alberta came out firing in the opening frame and thanks to 12 kills and just two errors, would take the opener decisively (25-18).
It was more of the same in the second except this time it was their block that would play a crucial role as they shut down the UBCO attack en route to the (25-16) victory.
Heat head coach Brad Hudson would change things up in the third, inserting Noah Campbell and rookie Luke Tiegen to spark the comeback.
The third was a hitting display from the home squad as they fired home 16 kills on just 23 attacks in the frame to force the match into a fourth set following a (25-21) victory.
Neither team could gain much separation in the fourth until the final few points. UBCO would hold the advantage at (20-18) but were unable to close things out as Alberta scored three straight to lead (21-20). Canham would put the visitors up one (23-22) and this would be as close as the home team got as they fell just a few points later (25-23) in the fourth.
“Our group showed some good resiliency and some good competitiveness… we are still pretty young and they need to get into these type of situations.” noted Hudson following the four-set defeat to the Golden Bears.
The Heat (0-2) will continue their homestand next weekend when they host a two-game set with the Manitoba Bisons (0-1). Alberta will have a week off before they return to the Okanagan to play the TRU WolfPack (0-3) in Kamloops.
All action can be watched live on Canada West tv presented by Co-op
[SOURCE: UBC Okanagan]