A promising start gave way to a tough finish for the University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team, as they fell in four sets to the College of the Rockies Avalanche on Saturday afternoon in Cranbrook.

The Cascades (9-13) took the first set 25-20, but the Avalanche (10-14) came roaring back to take the next three – 27-25, 25-19 and 25-23.

"I just think we're working really hard to create a cushion in sets, and then we relax and lose the urgency," UFV head coach Janelle Rozema said, analyzing the Avalanche's propensity for comebacks, both in Friday's five-set UFV win and again on Saturday. "When we go on a run, we need to have more of a killer instinct. We didn't have that today. It really affected us when they battled their way back in, and we got a little bit nervous."

In the first set, the Cascades raced out to a 10-4 lead on the strength of seven straight serves from Chelsea Kidd, capped by an ace. Middle Sedona Arabsky thrived during this stretch, hammering down three straight kills. The Avalanche would rally to cut the deficit to 21-20, but UFV reeled off the next four points, with Amanda Matsui coming through with back-to-back aces to close it out.

The Avalanche quickly seized control in the second, building a 7-2 advantage. They carried that lead throughout much of the set, but UFV staged a late rally, chopping down a 21-15 deficit to tie it 22-22 with Matsui picking up a pair of kills during the surge. The Cascades would go up 24-23, but COTR staved off set point and went on to take it 27-25 after back-to-back attack errors for UFV.

The hosts took over the third set in the middle stages, with a pair of Taylor Whittall kills helping the Avalanche pull ahead 19-14. UFV battled back to within 21-19 after an Arabsky kill and a Kristen McBride service ace in succession, but COTR responded with four straight points, highlighted by two aces from Abigail Gruenhage to close it out.

The Cascades appeared in control in the fourth, building leads of 11-4 and 21-16, but COTR's Claire Sheppard served for five straight points and Whittall picked up three key kills as the Avalanche rallied to take a 23-21 lead. Whittall wrapped things up with a kill.

UFV's outside hitters – Matsui (14 kills, 12 digs), Kidd (14 kills, 10 digs) and McBride (10 kills, 14 digs) – all had double-doubles, and Arabsky notched eight kills. Setter Kara Williams finished with 35 assists.

Ecaterina Arabadji (13), Whittall (10) and Maisa Orosz (10) all hit double-digit kills for COTR.

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.).