The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team dropped a second straight three-set decision to the Vancouver Island University Mariners on Saturday afternoon in Nanaimo. 

The CCAA No. 1-ranked Mariners continued their strong play from the night before, posting set victories of 25-18, 25-10 and 25-20 to take the match over the No. 9 Cascades.

VIU boosted its PACWEST-leading record to 20-0, while fourth-place UFV fell to 11-7.

"There's a lot we can learn from a game like today," Cascades head coach Mike Gilray noted. "We can be upset about losing, but if we don't take the opportunity to learn when a team of that calibre shows us our mistakes, then it's a wasted weekend.

"There is stuff for us to take from this weekend to help us get better for the rest of the semester."

VIU grabbed a 13-7 lead off of an eight-serve run by Danielle Groendijk, on their way to a 25-18 first-set victory.

The Mariners took control in the second, as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead on Karoline Tormena's service and extended their lead through a six-point service run from Groendijk before closing it out 25-10.

The Cascades kept the third close, but VIU proved to be too much, prevailing 25-20. 

Cassidy King led the Cascades defensively with 11 digs, while Kim Bauder had seven kills and seven digs. Lauren Poirier also had a strong game in the middle, posting four kills on nine swings. 

Groenendijk had a team-high 11 kills for the Mariners, while Tormena and Taylor Wickson both had eight.

It was tough for the Cascades to get rolling this weekend as they were missing their influential left side Amanda Matsui, who was sidelined due to injury. 

"It is hard to replace a girl that's up for player of the year," Gilray noted. "But I don't think we need excuses, I think we just need other people to step up. It's an opportunity for others to push for starting time."

The Cascades volleyball teams are on the road again next weekend, facing the Capilano Blues in a Friday-Saturday set in North Vancouver.