Tanner Michalenko, Saskatchewan Sports Information Student Assistant
SASKATOON – The No. 2 ranked UBC Okanagan Heat picked up a win in straight sets (25-15, 25-19, 25-12) against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the PAC.
With the win, the Heat improve to 13-4. The Huskies fall to 9-10.
Third-year Aidan Lea had a team-high nine kills on a match-high 57% kill percentage. Fifth-year Michelle Jakszuk added eight kills and seven digs.
Second-year Emily Koshinsky led the Huskies with a match-high 11 kills, five digs and three service aces.
Koshinsky's opening kill and service ace was the lone highlight in the first set for the Huskies. Fourth-year Siobahn Fitzpatrick provided the service for the Heat during a 7-0 run after the opening 2-0 Huskie lead. Fitzpatrick continued to impress in the set, recording two blocks and two kills as part of another Heat run as they cruised to a 25-15 win in set one.
Down 15-10 in the second, Koshinsky's kill gave herself the service and she went on to put away two aces as part of a 5-0 Huskie run to tie the game at 15. The Heat would storm back with Lea providing two kills as part of the 5-0 run to respond. The Huskies were forced to take a timeout but couldn't recover. The Heat secured the 25-19 win with a Sara McCreary kill.
The Huskies trailed 9-7 in the third before McCreary gave the Heat the boost it needed. Her run of five points at the service was part of an 8-1 run in the middle of the set, making it 17-8 UBCO. After the run, the Heat would go on to secure the straight set sweep with a 5-1 run to win 25-12 in the third.
The two teams are back on the court Saturday night. First-serve is at 6 p.m.