Heslinga, Sargent power Bears to quarter-final win over Laval

KINGSTON, ON – When they needed it, the Golden Bears best players answered the call on Thursday afternoon in Kingston. Isaac Heslinga and Jacob Sargent combined for a staggering 46 kills, to go along with 50 assists from Sam Drybrough, as Alberta earned a 3-1 quarter-final win over the Laval Rouge et Or.

The win sends Alberta to the national semifinal, where they will meet either UBC or McMaster on Friday night. 

The 32 kills for Heslinga — who was named the U SPORTS Player of the Year on Wednesday — was a new program record, breaking the mark of 31 set by Sandy Henderson in 2002. Sargent added 14 kills on just 22 attempts, adding a much needed second option for the Bears in the final two sets. 

“Isaac was doing what Isaac does. He is such a good player in all parts of the game, and his attack today was on fire. But if you ask him, he would say he could play better. He can be better in block and better in serve, and that just shows how good he can be,” said Bears head coach Brock Davidiuk. “Sargent was phenomenal for us too. That was one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play.” 

The Golden Bears, after a shaky start, finished the match with 57 kills, 19 more than Laval. Alberta also finished with an 11-4 block advantage, but were plagued by service errors early in the match, committing 27 in the win. 

The two sides played an extremely tight and nervous opening two sets, with each side earning a 25-23 win. The Bears uncharacteristically committed 11 attack errors in the first two sets, combined with 11 service errors in a 25-23 first set loss. 

“Our guys care quite a lot, and I think they were quite nervous in the first set. And we challenged our seniors and veterans to play better. So that was our main message after the first two sets, that we needed to play with more urgency, and they took that to heart and started to play more like us,” continued Davidiuk. “We started nervous and worked our way into the game, and I don’t think we will get that luxury in the semifinal.” 

Heslinga and Sargent heated up in the third, with Alberta cruising to a 25-15 win. Heslinga recorded nine of his 32 kills in the third, to go along with five from Sargent. 

After seizing momentum, Alberta did not relinquish it in the fourth set, eventually securing the match with a 25-19 win. The Bears scored 14 kills on just 24 swings in the fourth, finishing with an absurd .458 attack percentage. Laval, thanks in large part due to Alberta’s block, finished with nine kills and seven errors in the final set.