The UBC O Women's Volleyball team had a good start to the preseason with some great matches last weekend at Capilano College.

UBC O started out playing two Canada West CIS teams on the first day. In the first match, UBC-Okanagan defeated Simon Fraser 3 games to 1 (25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 25-15), anchored by the strong play of three returning players. Rebecca Warnes supplied 10 kills and 1 stuff block, Tammy Thomas 8 kills, 11 digs and 2 aces, and Caitlin Nyhus setting and serving a strong game. Rookie Janice Seien making her first start also had a strong performance with 8 kills, 1 stuff block and 2 serving aces.

In the second match of the day, Thompson Rivers defeated

UBC Okanagan 3 games to 2 (33-35, 22-25, 25-14, 25-20, 15-10). UBC-O won a very exciting first set that lasted 35 minutes (35-33) and then took a 2-0 lead in the best of 5. UBC O had their chances to win the 4^th set, but unforced errors and fatigue played a role in letting TRU off the hook. Rookie setter Alycia Bradstock made her first start as a UBC O Lakers, and had a strong game along with first year Kailey Buller, a left side hitter who provided 12 kills, 8 digs.

Head Coach Steve Manuel was very happy with his team’s performance against two good Canada West CIS teams after the first day.

“Its early in our season, both these CIS teams have been playing exhibition matches for 3 weeks now, so for our first two official matches of the year I am pleased with how we played. We are used to only playing one best of 5 matches a day, so to play as well as we did and get many of our first year players into the matches indicates to me that we are on the right track with the players and the program.”

On the second day of the competition, Malaspina defeated UBC Okanagan 3 - 0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-18). Top performer for the Lakers was Emily Brown with 7 kills and 5 digs.

In the second match of the day, and fourth best of 5 matches in 24 hours, Capilano College defeated UBC- Okanagan 3 - 1 (25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18).

5^th year player Tammy Thomas, named an all-star in the tournament had this to say;

"I thought it was really good for our players to gain the experience that this tournament always gives us. We had a really strong start by beating SFU, which meant a lot to me. Overall some of our girls really stepped it up this weekend and proved that they can play at this level (C.I.S) if given more time, but we all still have a long way to go.”