Gibsons Michelle Jakszuk and the UBC Okanagan Heat women’s volleyball team are off to the Canada West Final Four this weekend in Edmonton.
The Heat upset defending national champion Manitoba Bisons in Kelowna last weekend 2-0 in the best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal playoff series.
The Heat won the first match 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-13) on Friday night. Jakszuk had three kills in limited action.
On Saturday night, the Bisons pushed the Heat to five sets (25-15, 20-25, 21-25, 25-14, 15-3) before dropping the match.
Jakszuk was named player of the game, coming off the bench for 12 kills and five blocks.
“A huge weapon, huge blocks, some huge touches and big swings, that was big,” head coach Steve Manuel said of his second-year hitter.
At the Final Four, the Heat will meet Trinity Western in one semifinal, while the University of Alberta will square off against the UBC Thunderbirds.
In men’s volleyball, the season and university career for Roberts Creek’s Stuart Richey came to a close as the Thompson Rivers (TRU) WolfPack fell in two games in their best-of-three quarterfinal series against Trinity Western in Langley.
TRU lost 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 18-25, 20-25) on Thursday night. Richey had six kills and 10 digs in the match and lost 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-14) on Friday night. Richey had three kills and two digs.
In women’s cross country, Roberts Creek’s Kendra Pomfret is tuning up for what she hopes will be a record breaking finish to her season with the University of Victoria (UVic) Vikes.
The Vikes team captain has already qualified for the nationals in the 1,500m, but recently broke the UVic record in the mile at the University of Washington Invitational on Jan. 31.
Pomfret finished seventh overall in the mile in 4:44.44, hitting a personal best and breaking the school record, which she already held.
“I can’t be upset with a PB, but I was definitely looking for more today,” said Pomfret, who still has until March 12 to peak for nationals. “The race was very tactical and pushy so I spent a lot of time fighting to get into position where I could run my own pace.”
The Vikes hit the track last weekend at the Husky Classic and the UW Open in Washington where Pomfret finished 33rd in the mile at the Husky Classic with a time of 4:48.61.
The Canada West Championships are set for Feb. 27 with the nationals next month.
“These are the races that get you mentally prepared for championship racing,” Pomfret said. “There are always good things to take from it. I’m really happy with where my aerobic fitness is at right now, and I know we are all looking forward to the next few races leading to the CIS Championship.”
— With files from UVic Athletics
