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Heat to take on Ryerson in national quarterfinal, Aidan Lea named All-Canadian

The UBCO Heat will travel to Laval, Que. as one of eight teams hoping to bring home the U Sports Women's Volleyball National Championship. UBCO is seeded fifth in the tournament and begins competition against the fourth-seeded Ryerson Rams. This is the second national championship berth for the Heat in three years and second since joining U SPORTS in 2011-12. In 2016, UBC Okanagan came home with a national bronze medal from Brandon.

The annual All Candian Award Gala was held on Thursday night before the action begins and saw Aidan Lea, the third-year middle for UBC Okanagan Heat, named to the 2018 U SPORTS women's volleyball All-Canadian team. Aidan Lea had an outstanding season to earn the national All-Star award. In just her second year with the Heat, she was one of the most feared and effective middles in the conference evidenced by her efficiency with the kill, the second highest mark in the conference at .336.

<who>Photo credit: Contributed </who>

Playing in all 24 matches, Lea logged 88 sets of court time and amassed 226 kills (2.57 per set) for the balanced Heat attack that had an unprecedented four players with over 225 kills on the same team. Lea is the third UBC Okanagan volleyball player to be selected to highest award in the nation since UBCO started competing at the highest level of university sports competition in U SPORTS.

<who>Photo credit: Contributed </who>

Canada West semifinalists:

- After sweeping Manitoba at home to advance in the Canada West playoffs the Heat stumbled in Vancouver, falling in two straight to the Thunderbirds. Although not advancing to their second CW final in three years, head coach Steve Manuel indicated it wasn't all for not as the team took advantage of the time off with rest and a refocus on studies.

- The rest was needed as the Heat traveled significantly in the second half of the season with trips to Brandon and Saskatoon on back to back weekends.

Players with nationals experience:

- On the current roster just Erin Drew, Michelle Jakszuk, Sophia Furlan and Siobhan Fitzpatrick were on the team that traveled to Brandon. Skye Thompson was a redshirt that season.

- This is the first national tournament for three of the Heat's starters. Second-year setter Sara McCreary, third-year middle Aidan Lea, and fourth-year outside hitter Ann Richards. Lea and Richards both played division one for NCAA squads. In Lea's one year at the University of Colorado she did not see any playoff action. In Richards three seasons at the University of Central Florida, the Saskatchewan product did not log in US post-season experience.

Size matters:

- The Heat boast one of the tallest lineups in the country with all five starters excluding the setter and the libero standing at least 6'1". Middle Aidan Lea is one of the taller players in the country at 6'5" and outside hitter Ann Richards, at 6'3", is one of the tallest attackers in Canada West.

- The entire roster lists 11 of 14 players at six feet and over.

Head to head with the Ryerson Rams (0-0)

- These two teams have never faced each other in an official match since UBC Okanagan joined U SPORTS in 2011/12.

<who>Photo credit: Contributed </who>

Scouting Ryerson:

- Ryerson played a perfect season going through the OUA with a 19-0 conference season and the sweeping through the playoffs with three straight wins to capture the OUA crown

- Last year the Rams played host to the U SPORTS national championship and returns most of the roster so Ryerson will have an experienced championship squad in Laval.

- Head coach Dustin Reid was the OUA East Division Coach of the Year, he has been at the helm since the 2008-09 season. He was also the OUA coach of the year in 2009-10.

A former Canadian national team player, Reid represented Canada in more than 120 international matches including two World Cups. He also played professionally for four years in Germany and Switzerland after playing one season with the University of Toronto.

Playoff run

- In the playoffs, the No. 1-ranked Rams swept the Waterloo Warriors 3-0 in quarter-finals and beat the Western Mustangs 3-1 in the semifinal. Ryerson would cap the undefeated campaign and advance to their second national championship after playing host last season by taking down the defending champion McMaster Marauders in four sets.

Key players:

- The historic year didn't go unnoticed, with seven Rams players earning end of season OUA honours – highlighted by Dale Iwanoczko Award of Merit winner and fifth-year libero Julie Longman, who was also named to a First Team All-Star. Theanna Vernon and Cailin Wark were also named to the First Team, alongside Second Team honouree Lauren Veltman and All-Rookies Janelle Albert, Alicia Lam and Lindsay Kleuskens.

The Heat face off against the Rams Friday, March 16th at 5 p.m. PST.



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