KELOWNA, B.C. – Coltyn Liu served up five aces to go with his 10 kills, two solo blocks, and two block assists for 18 total points in leading the UBC Thunderbirds to a four-set Canada West men's volleyball win at UBC Okanagan Friday night.
 
The set scores were 25-20, 25-13, 22-25, and 25-14.
 
Liu's five aces moved him into the top five on the Canada West list for most aces in a single season. He currently has 47 with two contests to go. The league record is held by former T-Bird Byron Keturakis, who recorded 65 during the 2017-18 national championship season.

Friday's win is UBC's 14th on the season, against five defeats, while the loss drops the Heat to (2-17). The Thunderbirds currently sit a game back of the Alberta Golden Bears for the second spot in the Canada West standings with three games remaining.
 
Matt Neaves led UBC with 13 kills, and Jordan Deshane knocked down 10 kills without an error on the night.
 
For the Heat, two players hit double figures for kills, Max Heppell with 14 and fifth-year senior Denham O'Reilly, with 12 kills and 11 digs.
 
The service line would also play a crucial role, as the Heat had zero aces but committed 12 errors compared to the 'Birds, who had 10 aces and 17 errors.
 

The Heat pushed back late in the first set to come within four points, however, were unable to close that gap as the T-Birds took the set 25-20 with Gerard Murray's kill.
 
A balanced attack by the 'Birds, coupled with a set of errors by the Heat, led to the visiting squad taking the second set 25-13. Neaves capped off a 6-0 UBC run early to go up 8-2, and the T-Birds never looked back. Liu sent the teams into the technical timeout with a kill to make it 16-7, and Danny Aspenlieder finished off the set with a service ace.
 
Going into the third set, UBCO took the lead on a 3-0 run to start off their third set comeback. The Heat were able to hang on to their lead, up 16-12 at the technical timeout.
 
The visitors responded by tying it up late in the set at 18-18. A kill and a block by Teo Ardanaz would propel the Heat ahead to take the set 25-22.
 
In the fourth set, the T-Birds held a 16-9 advantage at the timeout thanks in part to a 9-3 run capped off by a pair of Liu aces. UBC was able to build on its lead and closed out the night with a Deshane kill, however, they pulled away and took the final set 25-15.
 
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night in the UBC Okanagan gymnasium at 6 p.m. PT.
 
All action can be watched live on Canada West TV, presented by Co-op.