With five teams tightly bunched atop the Canada West conference in 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 volleyball, each and every match in 2017 will carry considerable meaning for the UBC Okanagan Heat.
Steve 惭补苍耻别濒鈥檚 defending national bronze medalists will open the new year with two key games this weekend in Vancouver, Friday and Saturday, against the rival UBC Thunderbirds.
The Heat (8-2) is currently tied for third in the conference with the Calgary Dinos, while the T-Birds (7-3) are just a game back.
Leading the way in Canada West are the Alberta Golden Bears (10-0) and Trinity Western Spartans (9-1), both of whom the Heat will see in the 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥檚 second half.
With plenty of tough matches to come and little room for error in the second semester, five-year veteran Megan Festival said the Heat is ready to take on the challenge.
鈥�(贬别补诲 coach) Steve has done a good job of training us for the long run, so hopefully 飞别鈥檒濒 be able to keep it going over the last part of the 蝉别补蝉辞苍,鈥� said Festival, one of three co-captains on the Heat.
鈥淭丑颈蝉 is when we tend to start peaking, when all the hard work 飞别鈥檝别 done starts to pay off.
鈥淲别 know there 飞辞苍鈥檛 be any easy matches, so 颈迟鈥檚 time for us to ramp things 耻辫.鈥�
Despite losing six players to graduation from last 测别补谤鈥檚 迟别补尘鈥攎辞蝉迟 of whom were 蝉迟补谤迟别谤蝉鈥攖丑别 Heat is once again holding its own in an ultra-competitive conference.
Festival said 颈迟鈥檚 a testament to the depth and talent of the Heat program.
鈥淲别 had a lot of girls coming back who played key roles for us last year when they were called on, they got a lot of experience in important 蝉颈迟耻补迟颈辞苍蝉,鈥� she said.
鈥淢颈肠丑别濒濒别 Jakszuk has really stepped up this year after waiting for her chance, and Siobhan (Fitzpatrick) has been playing great.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 a different team this year, but still a very good team. 滨迟鈥檚 been a nice, refreshing 肠丑补苍驳别.鈥�
Meanwhile, the Heat men (4-6) will also be in Vancouver for a pair of matches this weekend against the UBC Thunderbirds (6-4).
The next home action for the UBCO volleyball teams is Jan. 20 and 21 against Trinity Western.
Heat hoops at 丑辞尘别鈥�
Both UBC Okanagan basketball teams tip off 2017 at home this weekend with a pair of games against the University of Regina Cougars.
贵谤颈诲补测鈥檚 games at the 麻豆精选 campus are set for 6 and 8 p.m., while 厂补迟耻谤诲补测鈥檚 go at 5 and 7 p.m.
Claire Meadows and the Heat women sit at 2-8 heading into the second semester, while the Cougars are at 6-2.
Pete 骋耻补谤补蝉肠颈鈥檚 Heat 尘别苍鈥檚 squad is 1-9, while Regina is 5-3.
