KELOWNA, B.C. – It got tight late but in the end the University of Saskatchewan Huskies were able to hold off a charging UBCO Heat team for 3-2 (25-18, 25-16, 23-25, 17-25, 15-13) victory in Kelowna on Friday night.

After Saskatchewan captured the opening two sets, the Heat stormed back to force a fifth and deciding frame but would eventually come just a few points short (15-13)

The loss drops the Heat to 4-5 as they lose their third game in a row, while the Huskies improve to 6-1, continuing their best start to a season since the early 1990's.

This marked UBCO's third straight Friday night home match to go the full five, while Saskatchewan was playing their first of the season.

Three players tied for the game-high in kills, Lacava and Bussard for the Heat, and Emily Koshinsky for the Huskies who all laid down 17 kills.

Olivia Mattern with 15 kills wasn't far behind Koshinsky while Brooke Listwin finished with five block, nine kill night.

The Huskies jumped out to an early lead in the first set as Koshinsky laid down seven of her team-high 17 kills. Saskatchewan took the stanza (25-18).

In the second frame, after the Heat would grab their first lead of the game, the Huskies would go on a (10-0) run as they would take the set (25-16).

The Heat were able to capture the third set (25-23) as the Huskies battled off a certain amount of set points before Hellen Lacava  would ice it with a kill that painted the line.

UBCO carried their momentum into the fourth frame taking it 25-17 propelled by three kills from Amaya Perry, including the set winning point.

In the final stanza, the Heat jumped out to a lead but the Huskies would make a comeback of their own to win 15-13. Olivia Mattern had the game-winning kill for Saskatchewan.

UBC Okanagan (4-5) and Saskatchewan (6-1) will face off again tomorrow night in the Furnace, with the first serve set for 4 p.m. PST. 

All action all season long can be watched live and on-demand on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.