Manitoba and UBCO set to clash in Canada West Play-In Series

For the first time since 2021-22, Manitoba (9-11) and UBC Okanagan (9-11) will meet in the playoffs, with a spot in the Canada West quarterfinals on the line. The three game series runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (if necessary). The two sides split a pair of games earlier this year, with Manitoba winning 3-0 on the Friday in Kelowna, and the Heat winning the rematch on the Saturday. Below are a few notes regarding both teams:

• Manitoba was the best serving team in the country, recording 184 aces, with 2.49 aces per set. Their 184 aces were 43 more than anyone else in the country, including 17 over their two-game set against UBCO earlier this season
• Karil Dadash Adeh and Jordon Heppner from Manitoba finished first and second in U SPORTS in aces, with 53 and 41 respectively
• This series serves as a return to roots for first-year UBCO head coach Scott Koskie. The Winnipeg native won multiple national titles with the Bisons, was the 1994-95 Player of the Year and a three-time All-Canadian
• Two of the best blockers in the country will go toe-to-toe in UBCO’s Thys Weststrate and Manitoba’s Jonah Dueck. The former was second in Canada West in blocks per set, with 1.16, while Dueck was fourth at 1.07. Weststrate was also one of the most efficient attacks in the country, with his .451 hitting percentage ranking second in the conference
• The Heat played excellent defensively in their Saturday win against Manitoba, recording 63 digs compared to 47 for Manitoba. Stephen Searcy led the way with 17, while Weststrate had 13. Bisons libero Josh Jehle posted a career-high 20 digs in the loss, and had 151 digs overall on the season, fifth in Canada West
• Bisons true freshman left side Owen Weekes (played right side in the first half of the year) posted a career-high 15 kills for Manitoba in their Friday win versus the Heat, hitting .591 overall
• Both teams had four players record over 100 regular season kills, led by 165 from Karil Dadash Adeh for Manitoba, and 185 for UBCO’s Seba Manuel