Missing one of their top offensive weapons, the UBCO Heat gave it their all as they fell to the University of Manitoba Bisons in Canada West quarter-final action on Saturday, bringing their season to a close.
The Heat lost to the Bisons 3-0 on Friday and needed a win on Saturday to keep themselves in the best of three series.
“We knew we were in for a battle,” said Heat head coach Steve Manuel.
“We play a similar style to the Bisons, tenacious and scrappy, they were just a little bit better at it than we were this weekend. We just weren't able to keep the pressure on straight through.”
The Heat opened Saturday with a strong first set backed by senior Hellen Lacaca, who recorded six kills and six digs to claim the opening frame.
Tied at 10 in the second set, the Bisons proceeded to go on a 15-2 run and prove why they are one of the best teams in the country.
Manitoba went on to win the third and fourth sets of the game convincingly to cut UBCO’s playoff run short.
Abigail Dueck finished the night with 29 assists, ending her tenure with the Heat as second all-time in the program for assists.
Graduating senior Sarah Hall helped lead the Heat’s defence as she and Tessa Ivans recorded 20 digs in the loss, nine coming from Hall.
"I was really happy with how we played today," added Manuel.
"We could have tucked tail and gone home early, but we came out to battle that whole first set and throughout the match."
The Bisons will now take on the University of Fraser Valley this weekend in pursuit of a spot in the championship final.
