The University of the Fraser Valley men's volleyball team came within a whisker of its first Canada West win – on opening night, no less – but the UBC Okanagan Heat fended them off a five-set thriller on Friday evening in Kelowna.
After the host Heat won the first two sets in decisive fashion, the Cascades found their footing and claimed the third and fourth. The fifth, though, was all UBCO, as they closed out the victory (25-18, 25-12, 20-25, 23-25, 15-4).
The Cascades (0-1 in conference play) look to take another step forward on Saturday (5 p.m., CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op) as they conclude their weekend set with the Heat (1-0).
"We're still working, still trying to come together as a team, and we grow with these types of opportunities," UFV head coach
Nathan Bennett said afterward. "Grinding out a fifth set is a really great way to come together as a team. The closer we get, and the more understanding we have of the speed and the tempo and the size that Canada West brings – no matter what team you play against – that will help us in the long run.
"Overall, at the beginning, maybe the moment got to be too much and we panicked a little bit in the first set. But I thought we settled in in the second. The third and fourth sets were really good – we fought well and played well together, and showed a lot of character to come back.
"We're struggling in fifth sets getting out of the gate – this happened when we were here in the preseason, almost a carbon-copy match against these guys. But I think we can play with them.
"It's helpful for us to be in these battles, to know that we can play in this league."
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The Heat cruised in the first two sets, but the Cascades' offence perked up in the third and fourth, with sophomore left side
Nimo Benne leading the way. He racked up 10 of his game-high 18 kills during the third and fourth, as the UFV squad impressively battled its way back into it.
Caleb Kastelein also contributed tough serving and timely kills to the UFV comeback effort.
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The fifth set, though, was all UBCO. They opened an 8-1 margin with Maxwell Heppell serving for five straight points, and the deficit was too much for the Cascades to overcome.
Middle
Noah Bouius had a strong game for the Cascades, registering eight kills in efficient fashion (.333 hitting percentage). Right side
Ryan Adams (eight kills) and left side Kastelein (seven kills) also chipped in offensively, and libero
Reece Wilson posted a team-best 10 digs.
Heppell paced the Heat with 13 kills and two aces, and Cameron Vanderveen and Teo Ardanaz had 10 kills apiece.
"Reset and go again," Bennett said, looking ahead to Saturday's rematch. "We made them a little nervous, gutting out a fifth set, but they're more experienced. They've been in these positions before, and being in the fifth is a little easier for those guys. For us, if we're in a fifth tomorrow, we'll hopefully have a better outcome."
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