The University of the Fraser Valley men's volleyball team dropped a three-set decision to the College of the Rockies Avalanche for the second consecutive day on Saturday in Cranbrook.

The Avalanche (8-16) prevailed 25-19, 25-13, and 25-14 to wrap up the weekend sweep over the Cascades (5-17). The result locks UFV into the PACWEST's sixth seed with one week remaining in the regular season.

Cascades head coach Nathan Bennett had lauded his team's battle level in Friday's hard-fought loss at COTR – all three sets were decided by the minimum two points – but felt his team was unable to match that performance in Saturday's rematch.

"It was the exact opposite of what we saw yesterday, and not what we expected," Bennett analyzed. "But at the end of the day, our playoff position is solidified, and we'll start to prepare for the 20th of February."

The Cascades took a 9-4 lead in the first with Caleb Kastelein and Landon Uy each posting two kills, but it was short-lived as the Avalanche surged back to even the match 10-10 after consecutive blocks by Carter Brodner and Mason Hoffman. COTR gained a 16-13 advantage following a Gustavo Bertoli ace. The teams traded points through the middle of the set, but the Avalanche closed it out 25-19 after scoring the final three points.

Bertoli once again used his serving to bolster his club in the second, knocking down consecutive aces to give COTR a 4-1 lead. UFV chipped away at the deficit, eventually levelling the score at nine apiece, but the Avalanche would not be stopped as they put up 16 of the next 20 points to take it 25-13.

COTR flew out to an 8-3 lead in the third on Quinn Grist's third kill of the set. The Avalanche would make no mistake from there, extending their lead to 18-9 and they sealed the victory on a Bertoli kill, 25-14.

Kastelein paced the Cascades with seven kills, while Uy added three kills and a team-high eight digs.

Grist and Hudson Goertz shared the team lead in kills for the Avalanche with seven apiece, while Bertoli had a large impact adding six kills and four aces.

The Cascades volleyball teams conclude the PACWEST regular season this week, taking on crosstown rival Columbia Bible College in a home-and-home set. Games run Friday at CBC (women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m.) and Saturday at UFV (women 5 p.m., men 7 p.m.).