Friday, Feb. 1: No. 9 Cascades (11-7, 4th in PACWEST) at Capliano Blues (5-13, 5th in PACWEST), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 2: Cascades at Blues, 5 p.m.
Webcast: pacwestbc.tv

The Cascades suffered a pair of three-set losses last weekend, albeit against the undefeated, reigning national champion VIU Mariners on the road.

They get back at it this weekend, looking to ignite a fresh win streak against a Capilano squad they swept back in November in Abbotsford while dropping just two sets over the two games.

"Last time we played them, they were missing probably their biggest offensive threat in (Brazilian outside hitter) Isabela Lima," said UFV bench boss Mike Gilray, whose team is No. 9 in the CCAA national rankings. "She's been putting up great numbers for them, and she's going to be someone we have to contend with for sure. They have a really dynamic setter (Kelsey Towers) who's super-quick around the court and runs a nice offence. We need to do a good job of slowing them down."

Players to watch: Gilray has been pleased with the play of his trio of liberos: Karissa Marazzi, Cassidy King, and Stephanie Demeules. Marazzi had the lion's share of starts in the first semester, but Gilray has elected to give each of them starts at the libero spot in recent weeks, with the other two subbing into the back row as defensive specialists. "It's a nice logjam and a good battle in practice," he said. "They're such great supporters of each other, and we're becoming a great passing team." The aforementioned Isabela Lima, who missed the last two games between Cap and UFV, has been outstanding of late, racking up a combined 22 kills in a pair of weekend wins for the Blues over College of the Rockies.