UBCO Heat showcase depth in exciting 5-set thriller win over Pandas

EDMONTON – Jade Bussard had a game-high 18 kills as the UBCO Heat swept their weekend series with the Alberta Pandas after a 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-13) tight victory at the Saville Centre on Saturday night.

Bussard was a standout performer in the game, but what impressed was the depth performance from a deep, playoff-bound Heat squad. The Pandas were paced by Lauryn Tremblay who also finished with 18 kills.

In the first set the teams picked up right where they left off the previous night, a UBCO win that was about as close of a three-set victory as you will see. Alberta held the advantage for the majority of the set, owing to the strong play of rookie Laila Johnston who finished the set with a set-high five kills. UBCO would keep it close the whole way, but the Pandas would finish it out 25-19.

The teams would continue to deadlock throughout the second. While down early, UBCO would fight back to a slim 17-15 lead at the midway point. Jade Bussard was the focal point of the Heat offence hitting four kills and adding some digs on the back-end. It would be a photo-finish in the main gym, but the Heat took four-straight from a 21-21 stalemate and sent the game to a third set knotted up at 1.

Alberta would grab the momentum back in the third, playing some efficient attacking volleyball whilst holding off a dangerous Heat attack at the net. Lauryn Tremblay impressed in the set, getting four kills for the Pandas and adding on an impressive solo block. The Pandas hit .257 in the frame, and totalled three blocks in a solid two-way set win.

The visitors opened the fourth on a heater, opening up a 8-3 lead on the back of three Bussard kills. They hit to the tune of a .348 percentage and took advantage of some Pandas reception and attacking errors. It would be the largest set surplus this weekend with a 25-15 UBCO win that would set up a fifth and final set.

UBCO would storm to a 6-3 lead in the final frame, forcing an early Alberta timeout. The Pandas, behind a raucous Bears cheering section, stormed back with some great serving and attacking. The set would inch along to a 12-12 impasse where Bussard and the Heat would win a 3-1 run to end their regular season on a high note.