Tigers on to CIS consolation round

BRANDON, Man. (CIS) – The UBC Okanagan Heat made their first-ever match in a CIS Women's Volleyball Championship a good one.

Megan Festival, Bianna Beamish and Kaitlynn Given each had nine kills as the third-seeded Heat swept the sixth-seeded Dalhousie Tigers 25-17, 25-10, 25-15 on Friday.

With the win, the Heat earned a semifinal match with the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday.

"I almost have to pinch myself," said Heat head coach Steve Manuel, who was named the CIS women's volleyball coach of the year on Thursday. "To be playing in the national semifinal tomorrow is unbelievable for our young program."

UBCO committed only nine attack errors all match. They had eight services aces to Dalhousie's six, keeping the Tigers off-balance for most of the match.

"It's no real secret that (serving well is) something that's important for us.," Manuel said. "If you look at some of the other Canada West teams that are here, they're a lot bigger than us. So for us it's about ball control, it's about being strategic and we've got to keep teams off balance in order for us to be successful."

Beamish said the match was more difficult for her team than it looked.

Dalhousie's such a good team and they're so well coached, so we knew it was going to be a battle," she said. "Although it didn't necessarily reflect it in the score, for us we were really working hard to score points."

Jessica Josenhans had seven kills for the Tigers, while Courtney Baker added six, but the Tigers had more attack errors (24) than kills (23).

"I thought we hung in there early but just weren't able to sustain it and lost to a very good team, so congrats to them," said Tigers head coach Rick Scott.

The Tigers are frequent competitors at nationals as the four-time defending AUS champions, but Scott said his team also has a lot of youth that can learn from this experience.

"We've got some young players on the floor," he said. "We start two first years and a second year and a third year, so this is good experience."

STAT LEADERS

UBC Okanagan
Kills: Megan Festival, Brianna Beamish, Kaitlynn Given (9)
Points: Brianna Beamish (12.5), Megan Festival (11)
Blocks: Katy Klomps (2,7)
Digs: Kalin Jones (10)
Service aces: Emily Oxland (4)

Player of the match: Katy Klomps

Dalhousie
Kills: Jessica Josenhans (7), Courtney Baker (6)
Points: Jessica Josenhans (8.5), Courtney Baker (7.5)
Blocks: Jessica Josenhans (0,3)
Digs: Abby Czenze (5)
Service aces: Abby Cenze (3)

Player of the match: Courtney Baker

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (CENTRAL TIME)

Friday, March 11
12:30 Quarter-final #1: Toronto 3, McGill 2 (18-25, 25-17, 25-27, 25-23, 15-13)
14:30 Quarter-final #2: UBC Okanagan 3, Dalhousie 0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-15)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: Brandon vs. Trinity Western (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: UBC vs. Montreal (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)

Saturday, March 12
12:30 Consolation #1: McGill vs. Dalhousie (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)
14:30 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Semifinal #1: Toronto vs. UBC Okanagan (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)
20:00 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)

Sunday, March 13
13:00 5th place (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Bronze medal (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Championship final (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)