KELOWNA, B.C. – Despite a strong performance from UFV's Ryan Adams, the UBC Okanagan Heat men's volleyball team earned an exciting four-set victory (21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19) over the UFV Cascades on Friday night at the UBCO Gymnasium.

During the first set of the match, the Heat and Cascades went point-for-point until the visitors went on a 9-4 run, that was bookended by Adams' kills, to close out the set and take the early lead.

Set two saw the Heat start to find their form and it was second-year outside hitter Seba Manuel who led the way. The Kelowna, B.C., native began to take over the match, as he fired five kills and added an ace to help UBCO even the match at a set apiece.

Manuel's serving game stepped up a notch in the third set, as he fired home another three aces, including a set-clinching bullet, which gave him six on the night.

With momentum on their side, the Heat jumped out to a big lead in the fourth set, thanks to a five-point run in the middle of the frame.

Eventually the Heat would earn themselves six match points and on their second attempt Renn Petryk found the back corner of the Cascades court to take the match three sets to one.

TOP PERFORMERS
UFV's Ryan Adams posted a team-high 15 kills to go with an ace, while Kyle cook notched seven blocks. Tyson Ardell finished with seven kills and five blocks.

Seba Manuel led the way for the Heat, scoring 15 kills, and a program record seven aces. Zach Van Geel had 11 kills and two aces, while Cade Hudson had 45 assists in the match.

Quotable
UFV head coach Nathan Bennett

"We ran into a team that is really becoming healthy for the first time this year, and we are still a pretty injured team. I thought [Ryan] Adams played pretty good tonight until he ran out of gas, but overall we get ready to play tomorrow."

UP NEXT
The Cascades and the Heat are back at it on Saturday, February 10 at 6p.m., and you can catch the action live on CanadaWest.tv.

-With files from Sophia Johansen / UBCO Athletics