KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds (1-1) dropped a 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 14-25, 22-25) decision to the UBCO Heat  (1-1) on Saturday night to earn a split on the opening weekend on the season. The Thunderbirds took a 3-1 victory over the Heat on Friday night.

Kiera Van Ryk was at the head of the Thunderbirds offence for the second night in a row in Kelowna, burying 15 kills. Gabrielle Attieh added 10 kills for the 'Birds, with both being set up by Alessandra Gentile's team-high 23 assists. Samantha Patko and Olivia Furlan were steady on the defensive side of the ball, finishing with 16 and 15 digs respectively.

"We didn't play with the consistency that was required and probably just didn't have the composure at some points in the match," said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. "The result was a few too many unforced errors and we struggled to maintain consistent on offence. In terms of turning points, we needed to push through in the second set that would have put us up 2-0."

First Set
 
The Thunderbirds jumped out early to start the match, taking a 5-0 lead into a Heat timeout in the opening frame. They maintained the lead into the technical time-out, but the Heat rallied with seven straight points to pull ahead 18-16. Seven kills by the Thunderbirds from then on gave them back the lead late, though, and they closed out a tight first set 25-23.

Second Set
 
Once again UBC started the set with a 5-0 run. They held that lead until the Heat tied it up at 14-14, and then put together a five-point run of their own to pull ahead 19-15. The visitors then tied it up late, and pushed it well into extra points, before the Heat took it 29-27 to the match up at a set apiece.

Third Set
 
The Heat were at their most dominant yet in the third, putting it away 25-14. A run of six straight to go ahead 20-10 had it in hand for the Heat, before Ann Richards and Siobhan Fitzpatrick buried a pair of kills apiece to close out the set.

Fourth Set
 
The Heat were in command most of the fourth set, with the exception being a run mid-frame by the Thunderbirds that had them leading from 12-11 to 18-17. Behind three kills from then on by Ann Richards, and a pair from Aidan Lea, the Heat were able to close it out 25-22 and cement their first victory of the season.
 
The Thunderbirds will now have a bye week before having their home opening weekend against the Calgary Dinos November 3 and 4.