The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team provided a much stiffer test for the reigning PACWEST champion Douglas Royals on Friday evening, but the Royals nevertheless prevailed in straight sets in New Westminster. 

The CCAA No. 10-ranked Cascades had struggled in Thursday's three-set home loss to No. 3 Douglas, but played "much better" in head coach Mike Gilray's estimation in the rematch, falling in a trio of hard-fought sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-21).

"We served very well tonight, and put them in a lot of trouble," Gilray said. "But we stopped sticking to our game plan and let them take all the momentum with some big attacks. They obviously started to play very well, and we let their best players take over."

In the first set, the Cascades (12-10) fell behind 19-12, but battled back to even the score at 21-21. The Royals (16-6) regrouped, though, and finished off the first set 25-22.

The second set was the turning point of the match as UFV built a 13-3 lead, only to watch the hosts come surging back, closing the gap to 21-19. A five-point service run by Grace Warkentin gave the Royals a 24-21 advantage and they would go on to take it 25-23.

The Royals continued their strong play in the third, developing a 12-7 lead after a six-serve run by Emma Schill on their way to close out the match 25-21.

UFV libero Cassidy King had a huge night, racking up 32 digs. Kristen McBride had a team-high six kills for the Cascades, while Kim Bauder and Keira Fisher each had five.

Vania Oliveira led the way for the Royals with a game-high 10 kills, followed by Caet McCorkell with eight.

Up next for the Cascades volleyball teams is a home-and-home series with the cross-town rival Columbia Bible College Bearcats. On Thursday they visit the Bearcats, before shifting to the Envision Financial Athletic Centre on Friday to close out the regular season (women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m. both nights).