Pauls, Bobcats serve up sweep of Heat

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This article was published 29/01/2024 (844 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One team was chasing home-court advantage for the playoffs while the other, in the words of Jim Mora, was just trying to win a game.

It went as expected.

The Brandon University Bobcats (13-5) sent the UBC Okanagan Heat (1-19) back to Kelowna, B.C., with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-16) thumping in Canada West men’s volleyball action at the Healthy Living Centre on Saturday.

“We’re an elite team. You don’t want to sink down to their level,” said Bobcats outside hitter Liam Pauls.

“When we control our side of the court and do our job, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the court, whether it’s UBCO or U of A (Alberta), it’s the same mindset: Get the job done. We executed.”

Pauls led BU in scoring with six kills, two errors and six aces while the Bobcats had a .338 hitting percentage and cooled the Heat down to .052. Brandon moved into a three-way tie for first with Alberta and UBC but is also just two wins ahead of eighth-place Manitoba (11-7) in a jam-packed top of the table.

While there aren’t many easy nights in Canada West, Saturday was one of them as BU was better in every facet of the game.

If UBCO’s first touch wasn’t enough to convince anyone they only won one match all season, their set selection and attack placement should have left few doubters.

The Bobcats didn’t have to do anything special, just moved where the ball was clearly headed and put up a double block, then ran basic offence and put the ball away.

They led 16-10 after Jens Watt tipped two balls in a row off the outside hand of right side Lucas Woelders, then continued to pull away, hitting .391 while limiting the Heat to .036.

The second set was an even battle, except for Pauls’ serve.

The Stonewall product served three aces in a row to start the second set up 4-0, then added three more on a five-point run to lead 17-9.

UBCO hit the ball better but got blocked four times and had no answers for JJ Love’s offence, which hit .450 with just two errors en route to a 2-0 lead.

“I’ve been working hard (on my serve). I went from the high-toss serve to a low toss. It’s a little bit more consistent,” Pauls said.

“Just get a whippy arm and not stress about putting it in but doing what I do best, letting my shoulder loose and just tugging on the ball. I felt really comfortable there.”

The third set was over early. The hardest UBCO hit the floor was when coach Brad Hudson spiked the ball 25 feet high in disgust after a call.

Brandon had its worst set of the night hitting wise at .200, but forced UBCO to a -.040 and dialled up four aces for 11 on the short, speedy evening.

Each of BU’s attackers had between six and eight kills.

Once again, the nation’s blocking leaders racked up 10, good for 3.33 per set. Paycen Warkentin led the team with five while Lauter had four.

Pauls didn’t record one, but spent much of the night across from setter Cade Hudson. He’s eager to get in on the block party soon.

“It inspires me a bit. Those guys give me pointers and they’re the best in the league,” Pauls said.

“I definitely want it a little more. There’s a little chip on my shoulder now that we’re the best blocking team in the league. I take pride in that, take pride in our blocking and I think we’re doing great.”

BU’s schedule certainly doesn’t get easier — it can’t, really. The Bobcats stay home for the next two weekends to play the Mount Royal Cougars (14-6) and Thompson Rivers WolfPack (9-9).

Then, they close the regular season on the road against the league-leading UBC Thunderbirds (13-5).

“Games get tougher and so do we. Iron sharpens iron,” Pauls said. “Those tough teams are going to bring the best out of us and we’re not going to crack at all. I have lots of faith in us.”

BU BASKETBALL:

In Abbotsford, B.C., the Bobcats men’s basketball team (12-6) lost to the Fraser Valley Cascades for a second straight night, 86-81 on Saturday.

Dylan Kinley had a game-high 31 points for UFV (6-10), which won Friday’s game 101-92 after Brandon missed its first 20 three-point attempts.

Sultan Bhatti led BU with 24 points each game.

In Saturday’s women’s game, Brandon (1-17) lost 101-47 as Reetta Tulkki posted a team-high 13 points for BU.

BU fell 85-36 on Friday, with Faith Clearsky scoring 14, with Cali Yates chipping in 11.

The Bobcats visit the Victoria Vikes to round out the regular season this weekend.

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