For a program that seems to break new ground each and every season, the UBC Okanagan Heat 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 volleyball program certainly 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 disappoint in 2016.
A mere five years after making their Canada West debut, the Heat set a whole new standard for the program, culminating with their first ever medal in March at the CIS national championship.
After losing a heartbreaking semifinal at nationals in Brandon to the University of Toronto, the Heat rebounded the following day to defeat UBC in the bronze medal match.
Along with a regular season conference title, a school-best 22-2 record, winning a Canada West silver, and making nationals for the first time ever, there 飞补蝉苍鈥檛 much more coach Steve Manuel could have asked from his team.
鈥淎蝉 a program, this is just very 蝉补迟颈蝉蹿测颈苍驳,鈥� said Manuel.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 been an incredible amount of work the last few years, getting to nationals was definitely a goal, then to win a medal was the icing on the cake. It has raised the bar for our program.
鈥泪苍 five short years 颈迟鈥檚 hard to believe 飞别鈥檝别 experienced pretty much 别惫别谤测迟丑颈苍驳,鈥� he added.
鈥淣辞飞 competing for a spot a nationals will be the new normal for 耻蝉.鈥�
Fifth-year middle player Katie Wuttunee, one of six players graduating with the program, said the significance of the 贬别补迟鈥檚 accomplishments finally came into clear view that celebratory Sunday in Brandon.
鈥泪迟 was pretty humbling to be there with the bronze 尘别诲补濒蝉,鈥� said Wuttunee.
鈥淥苍肠别 we got them, you realize that 颈迟鈥檚 a big deal and 测辞耻鈥檙别 part of something really, really special. 滨鈥檓 happy for everyone with the team and 滨鈥檓 grateful for the whole experience.
鈥沦迟别惫别 said if he asked anyone one of us five years ago when we came here that if we were on the national podium, we would have been so happy to take 颈迟,鈥� Wuttunee added.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 really hard to believe how far 飞别鈥檝别 肠辞尘别.鈥�
On an individual basis, Wuttunee was named an all-Canadian first all-star.
Coach Manuel, for the second time, was honoured as CIS coach of the year.
Along with Wuttunee, Chandler Proch, Breanna Beamish, Katy Klomps, Kailin Jones and Katelyn DeJong all graduated after a five years with the program.
Even with all the key departures, the Heat has put a competitive team on the court once again in 2016-17.
Through the first 10 matches of the season, UBCO sports an 8-2 record.
