The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team wrapped up its 2018 schedule with a four-set victory over the Columbia Bible College Bearcats on Saturday.

The Cascades, coming off a three-set triumph over CBC at the Envision Financial Athletic Centre on Friday, went across town to Columbia Place to complete the home-and-home set. The Bearcats proved more dangerous at home, but it was UFV ultimately prevailing by scores of 25-20, 25-22, 15-25 and 25-22.

The victory enabled the CCAA No. 9-ranked Cascades (8-4) to leapfrog the Camosun Chargers for third place in the PACWEST. The Bearcats fell to 0-12.

"We're definitely happy with where we're sitting, and we're happy with the parts of our game that are clicking right now – our serving and our offence," Cascades head coach Mike Gilray said, reflecting on his team at the midpoint of the PACWEST campaign. "Just have to add a few more pieces to our game and keep the ball rolling."

Setter Kara Williams got the Cascades off to a great start on Saturday, serving an early five-point run to stake UFV to the lead in the first set. The Bearcats battled back to tie, but the Cascades were able to close it out. It was much the same story in the second set – UFV building a significant lead, CBC rallying, and the Cascades coming through at the end.

The third set was all Bearcats, as the Cascades struggled with errors throughout and the hosts played with confidence. In a back-and-forth fourth set, UFV got key service runs from Hanna Hieltjes (midway through the set) and Stephanie Demeules (to close it out), sealing the Cascades' sixth win in seven games.

"In the third, we let them get the momentum going, and that's a tough ball to stop," Gilray said. "It seemed like all of our errors were in a row in the third set, and that compounded with their momentum. They were definitely playing their best volleyball of the weekend during that stretch."

The Cascades had a big night at the service line, serving at 90 per cent with 11 aces against just seven errors. Williams led the way in that department, serving 20 times and racking up three aces.

Fifth-year left side Kim Bauder led the offence, registering a team-high 15 kills on 30 swings with just three errors. She also notched 11 digs and two aces. Libero Cassidy King had 16 digs, and Gilray lauded the versatile play of Demeules, who has sparked the Cascades of late by stepping into the backup setter role with teammate Zoe Flowers sidelined due to injury.

The next game action for the Cascades volleyball teams comes Jan. 11-12, as they host the Camosun Chargers.