Bears end season on high-note with straight-set victory over UBCO

EDMONTON – Kern, Canham, Currie and Murray. Not a 1960’s folk band, but the graduating Golden Bears that all played a pivotal role in a straight set (25-22, 25-21, 25-19) victory over the UBCO Heat on senior appreciation night Saturday evening at the Saville Centre.

The Bears end the regular season at 22-2, and have the first seed for the Canada West playoffs starting this week.Cam Kern (32 assists, four kills) was joined by Jordan Canham in the winning effort with the latter leading the team in kills with 11.

The Heat drop to 7-17 and were paced by Renn Petryk who led the Kelowna-side with nine kills.

Alberta got off to a roaring start in this contest, a 7-0 run from the first serve that displayed the best of their offensive game. The Heat regrouped after a timeout and clawed their way back into the game owing to the strong net play by their block line. Renn Petryk continued his strong weekend for the Heat, finishing with a set-high five kills. The game would inch to a close conclusion, but three straight points from a 22-22 knot won the Bears the set.

The top ranked offence in the Canada West went to work in the second, with the Bears hitting to the tune of a .429 hitting percentage led by Billy Johnstone who finished with a team-high four kills. Alberta led the entire set, and took a 2-0 lead heading into the third frame.

The hosts kept the momentum chugging in the third set, hopping out to a 9-3 early lead on the back of Cam Kern. The star fifth-year setter was everywhere good in the frame, contributing a few kills, a block, and nine assists as the conductor of the Bears offence. Petryk was the main contributor for the visitors, recording a team-high three kills in the frame. While the Heat battled diligently, the Bears took the last set 25-19 and the match 3-0.

Along with Kern and Canham, the Bears celebrated the graduation of Owen Murray and Landon Currie before the game. All four contributed heavily in last season’s U SPORTS Championship, and will be missed by the program.