UBC Okanagan Heat Triumphs Over Brandon Bobcats in Four Sets

The UBC Okanagan Heat delivered a strong performance, defeating the Brandon University Bobcats in four sets with scores of 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, and 25-19 during their Canada West men’s volleyball match on March 15, 2024. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Heat, who are now positioned with a 10-1 record in the season.

Head coach Scott Koskie, now in his second season with the Heat, had anticipated this match since the schedule was released. Having watched the Bobcats win the national championship on their home court, Koskie expressed enthusiasm about competing against them. “This is a great place to play, great fans, these guys put on a great performance last year and they always play tough at home. It feels great to come in and beat a good team at home,” he remarked.

The Bobcats started strong, taking an early lead of 22-17 in the first set. Their momentum, however, faltered when Xander van Driel led an impressive serving run, helping the Heat to execute a comeback. The Heat capitalized on this momentum, ultimately winning the first set 25-22. Seba Manuel was instrumental in this success, scoring seven kills on nine attempts, matching the total output of the entire Bobcats lineup in that set.

Brandon’s struggles continued into the second set, where they initially led 17-14. But costly errors allowed the Heat to regain control, with Manuel contributing significantly from the back row. A series of untimely mistakes by the Bobcats late in the set resulted in another victory for the Heat, making the score 2-0.

The Bobcats rebounded in the third set, led by Tom Friesen, who helped secure an 18-13 lead with aggressive play that included several aces. They maintained this advantage and ultimately won the set 25-19, bringing the match to a crucial fourth set.

The fourth set remained competitive until a pivotal moment at 15-14. Errors from the Bobcats allowed the Heat to take charge. A serving run by van Driel propelled them to a commanding 22-16 lead. Despite efforts from the Bobcats to stay in the match, including two late kills from Liam Pauls, Manuel sealed the victory with his match-high 20th kill.

Koskie praised Manuel’s development, stating, “The level that Seba has taken his game to is exceptional. Oftentimes, the team that has the best outside hitter wins, and I think he’s shown that.” Manuel’s performance was complemented by Friesen with 16 kills and Pauls with 14, while the Bobcats struggled with errors throughout the match.

The two teams are set to face each other again on March 16, 2024, at 18:45.

In other sports news, the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team faced a setback on the same day, losing 102-99 in overtime against the Saskatchewan Huskies. Arjun Hehar led the Bobcats with 32 points. The basketball team’s next game is scheduled for March 16 at 19:00.

With both teams showing competitive spirit, the upcoming rematch promises to be an exciting encounter for fans of university sports.