CALGARY – The UBC Okanagan Heat pay a visit to the Jack Simpson Gym to close out the 2019-20 Canada West women's volleyball regular season against the University of Calgary Dinos this weekend.
First serve goes at 6 p.m. Friday, with a 2 p.m. matinee start set for Seniors' Day on Saturday afternoon.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NATIONALS
After a split in Winnipeg last weekend, the Dinos will not qualify for the Canada West playoffs – only the top eight teams advance, and while they can still finish in an eighth-place tie with Winnipeg, they would lose the tiebreaker in that scenario. Despite that setback, the season isn't over, with UCalgary set to host the U SPORTS national championship March 13-15, so there's still plenty to work towards. Head coach
Natalie Gurnsey says her team is well-prepared for the challenge if they "play consistently with aggressive offence and tough serving."
LAST WEEKEND
Adriel Goodman led the Dinos squad to a commanding Friday night win against the Winnipeg Wesman as she registered a season's best 21 kills, three blocks and four digs. Unfortunately, the Dinos fell flat on night two, dropping the match for a weekend split in Winnipeg.
SENIOR DAY
On Saturday, the Dinos will honour their senior team members in their final regular season home game of the year. The Dinos women's program will say goodbye to fifth-years
Kate Pexman,
Rachel Solecki,
Beth Vinnell,
Kennedy Snape,
Adriel Goodman and
Autumn Davidson.
SCOUTING REPORT
vs UBC OKANAGAN HEAT
Game Info Friday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. - Jack Simpson Gym
Record 7-15, 10th in Canada West
Player to Watch One of the newest members of the Heat, outside hitter Hellen Lacava grew up playing in Brazil and leads her team in kills (240), recording 2.73 kills a set.
NOTES
- The Heat's 2019-2020 roster welcomes five first-year players, along with two new transfers to join the nine returning players of last year's team
- The Dinos have not dropped a match to the Heat since 2017
- Last week, UBCO Heat split their last home matchup of the season against sister school UBC
- Outside-hitter Amaya Perry has secured the No.3 spot in the conference in aces per set (0.58), largely contributing to UBCO's No.1 spot in total team aces (216)
- Second-year outside-hitters Jade Bussard and Sydney Grills were named to the 2018-2019 Canada West All-Rookie Team
UP NEXT
The Dinos will prepare for the biggest match of the year: the national quarter-final set for Friday, March 13 at 6 p.m. in the Jack.
-UC-