A series of promising performances in the preseason has given the University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team reason for optimism as they prepare to make their Canada West debut this weekend in Kelowna.
GAME SCHEDULE
- Friday, Nov. 5: Cascades at UBC Okanagan Heat, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 6: Cascades at UBC Okanagan Heat, 3 p.m.
- Location: Kelowna, B.C.
- Webcast: CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Cascades women's volleyball team will be taking their first steps into Canada West conference play this weekend, but even as a bright future beckons, head coach
Janelle Rozema gave a nod to the past.
"I feel slightly overwhelmed with the honour to be able to be the coach that leads this program into a ground-breaking weekend," she said. "I want to acknowledge all the coaches and players who came before us – people who have set the foundation to catapult us to this level with solid competency to be able to compete. It's not only because of our preseason load that we feel confident, but because of the people who came before us and shaped the legacy of what it means to be a Cascades women's volleyball player."
The Cascades, indeed, did load up their preseason schedule, playing seven exhibition games against future CW foes and posting an encouraging 4-3 record.
FULL SCHEDULE
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Those performances give the squad a certain level of confidence as they head to Kelowna this weekend to open conference play.
"I feel like there's still going to be a level of newness, just being in an official Canada West match," Rozema said, looking ahead to the matches vs. the UBC Okanagan Heat. "But after our preseason, we feel a lot more comfortable with this level of play before getting to a match that has playoff implications. One of my coaching philosophies is that confidence comes from experience, and we got a lot of great experience against teams in Canada West, and showed that we can play with them and beat some of them as well.
"So I think it gives us a nice healthy balance. We do feel like we belong and we feel capable of winning games at this level, but we haven't lost our edge knowing that it doesn't matter which team you're playing – you have to play your best to get winning results at this level."
Leading the way for the Cascades will be fourth-year outside hitters
Amanda Matsui and
Sadie Wilson. Matsui, a left side from Port Coquitlam, B.C., was a three-time conference all-star during the Cascades' PACWEST years, and she's proven in the preseason that her athleticism and skillset will transfer seamlessly to the next level. Wilson, a transfer from Mount Royal University who hails from Vancouver, will start at right side, and her prior Canada West experience will serve the Cascades well.
Third-years
Grace Warkentin – a Douglas College transfer – and returnee
Kristen McBride will also contribute at the outside hitter spots.
The Cascades will rely on a pair of rookies at the setter spot –
Cailin Bitter out of Abbotsford's Mennonite Educational Institute, and Edmonton product
Kinna Fisher. Bitter, at 5'11", brings prototypical size and athleticism to the position and will be the opening-night starter, while Fisher, who is a technician with a high volleyball IQ, also figures to see extensive playing time.
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In the middle, rookies
Mo Likness,
Alicja Hardy-Francis and
Zoe Arca will be key contributors. Likness, at 6'0", isn't particularly tall for the position at the CW level, but she brings outstanding athleticism and speed – both in terms of her footwork and arm swing – and will be an effective offensive presence. Hardy-Francis and Arca, meanwhile, and strong defenders who will boost the Cascades at the net.
Third-year
Stephanie Demeules and rookie
Emily Matsui – Amanda's younger sister – will handle the bulk of the libero duties, and both excel on both defence and serve-receive.
The UFV women's squad is
ranked No. 13 in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll.
The Cascades volleyball teams host their home openers Nov. 26-27 vs. Thompson Rivers.
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