Falling to UBC in the Canada West semifinal wasn香蕉视频直播檛 exactly the outcome UBC Okanagan Heat women were counting on.

On the upside, the early playoff exit bought Steve Manuel香蕉视频直播檚 squad a much-needed week off to prepare for the this weekend in Quebec City.

香蕉视频直播淎ll things considered, it香蕉视频直播檚 a pretty good scenario for us,香蕉视频直播� said Manuel, whose Heat went 19-5 during the regular season. 香蕉视频直播淚t was an incredibly busy second semester for us, we spent five of the last seven weekends on the road, so that was a challenging stretch.

香蕉视频直播淭his (break) has given us a chance to rest, get some sleep and rehab and just reload,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 also given us an opportunity to address and work on some things you don香蕉视频直播檛 get a chance to when you香蕉视频直播檙e playing every weekend.香蕉视频直播�

The Heat, seeded No. 5 in the country, will open nationals on Friday at the University of Laval with a quarterfinal match against the fourth-ranked Ryerson University Rams from Toronto.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e seen them play quite a bit, they have a nice group of players and to go unbeaten in Ontario, you have to be doing something right,香蕉视频直播� Manuel said of the Rams. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e a good team and well-coached, so like all the matches there, it won香蕉视频直播檛 be easy.香蕉视频直播�

UBCO is one of four Canada West teams at nationals. The Calgary Dinos head in as the top seed, while UBC is third and Alberta is rated seventh. The University of Montreal (No. 2), host Laval Rouge et Or and Dalhousie round out the eight-team field.

Here is the seeding for the U SPORTS women香蕉视频直播檚 馃彁 championship! 馃檶 // Voici le classement pour le championnat de volleyball f茅minin de U SPORTS

香蕉视频直播� U SPORTS (@USPORTSca)

Manuel said any one of 香蕉视频直播渇our or five香蕉视频直播� teams香蕉视频直播攊ncluding the Heat香蕉视频直播攊s capable of claiming the Canadian title, with no fewer than six being legitimate medal contenders.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檙e in a good place going in,香蕉视频直播� said Manuel. 香蕉视频直播淭he players are poised, confident and excited about the chance to be playing for a national medal.香蕉视频直播�

The Heat competed once before at the U Sports nationals, winning a bronze medal in Brandon in 2016.

Five current UBCO players were on that medal-winning squad香蕉视频直播擡rin Drew, Michelle Jakszuk, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Sophia Furlan and Skye Thompson.

As for his program香蕉视频直播檚 second appearance at the big show, Manuel said it香蕉视频直播檚 important for the Heat to strike a balance between the task at hand and simply enjoying the experience.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 such a privilege to play in this championship, a lot of players go through their entire university careers without getting close to this,香蕉视频直播� said Manuel.

香蕉视频直播淥ur sole focus is to win, but if it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen it香蕉视频直播檚 not the be-all end-all. We香蕉视频直播檙e going there with the idea that we can bring home a national medal, so we need to embrace the entire experience and enjoy it as much as we can.香蕉视频直播�

The U Sports national gold medal final goes Sunday in Quebec City at 2 p.m. Pacific time.

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