KELOWNA, B.C. – Brianna Beamish went off for 16 kills in a three set sweep (25-21, 25-23, 25-21) of the visiting UBC Thunderbirds.
 
The fifth-year outside hitter also pulled up 20 digs for the Heat's twelfth straight win on Saturday night in Kelowna. The Okanagan women's volleyball team see their record improve to 17-1.
 
This is the second win the Heat have taken from UBC since their entry into the CIS in 2011, the loss drops the T-Birds record to (12-6).
 
The UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team maintained a lead throughout the entire first set, with a UBC service error closing out for a 25-21 win for the Heat.
 
The Heat started the set off strong with a 4-0 run prompting a time-out to be taken by the Thunderbirds, and again when the Heat scorched the score to 11-3. 
 
The Thunderbirds found their rhythm midway through, chipping away at the Heat's lead with successful two-point runs and proved relentless in keeping the pressure on, coming as close as 21-20 to the Heat.
 
In the first set the Heat were led by Beamish with four kills and nine digs, and Megan Festival chipping in with eight digs. Danielle Brisebois (Bolton, Ont.) lead the Thunderbirds with five kills, and Nicola Laniuk (Surrey, B.C.) chipped in with four kills. 
 
The Heat won the second set even though the Thunderbirds carried the momentum they attained midway through the first set, keeping the score tight (9-9). The Heat then went on a four points scoring streak, prompting UBC to call a time-out. The Heat closed the game, (25-23).
 
The Thunderbirds started off the third set with strong serves, taking the lead for the first time in the series (2-0). The Heat recovered quickly bringing the game to a tie (2-2), and after an exciting four-point rally, regained composure with a 7-4 lead.
 
The Thunderbirds regained the lead 18-17, testing the Heat's composure.  Senior Katie Wuttunee responded with an unreturnable kill to tie the game, and Festival followed with the delivery of another kill to regain a 19-18 lead.  Thunderbirds' Juliana Kaufmanis (Richmond, B.C), delivered a successful kill to return the game to an exciting 19-19 score, further demonstrating the determination of the Thunderbirds to keep the pressure on.
 
Ultimately, a service error by UBC led to a kill by Beamish, putting UBCO in the lead 21-19 – prompting a Thunderbird timeout.  Victoria Behie (Nanaimo, B.C.) came out of the timeout for UBC with a kill, bringing the game back within a single point (20-21).  However, with a strong round of serving by Emily Oxland, Beamish capitalized with three big kills to successfully defeat and sweep the UBC Thunderbirds.
 
The Heat were led by Beamish who had 16 kills and 20 digs, giving her a double double and deservedly, player of the game honours. Following Beamish was Wuttunee with nine kills while Megan Festival had eight kills and 16 digs.  Kailin Jones finished the match off with 14 digs and setter Emily Oxland finished the game with 29 assists and a service ace.
 
For the Thunderbirds, Brisebois led with 15 kills, Kaufmanis followed with nine kills and 16 digs and Laniuk had five kills.
 
The Heat will have a first-place showdown next week with Trinity Western, while UBC returns home next weekend to host the 11-9 Thompson Rivers WolfPack.