The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team found themselves on the wrong end of a weekend sweep, as they fell to the Trinity Western Spartans on Friday evening in Langley.

The U SPORTS No. 4-ranked Spartans followed Thursday's three-set win with a 25-16, 25-8, 25-18 triumph in Friday's rematch at the Langley Events Centre. The hosts improved to 5-1, while the Cascades enter the Christmas break at 1-5.

"The credit needs to go to Trinity," UFV head coach Janelle Rozema observed. "This is the best team the best team we've played so far. This is the top, and we got an awakening this weekend of how big that gap is right now.

"In a timeout, we talked about how this is where we want to be. We don't want to be in a weaker division, playing weaker teams and having closer games. We want to be here with the best and shown this is the best. Otherwise we'll never know what we're reaching for."

The Spartans took control early, jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. The two teams exchanged points through to the media timeout with TWU up 16-9 after a Savannah Purdy kill, and the hosts pulled away for a 25-16 win, hitting a scorching .441 in the set. 

Trinity Western continued to roll in the second set, jumping out to leads of 6-0 and 9-1. The Spartans outscored the Cascades 9-2 after the media timeout to take it 25-8.

???? WVB | Sadie Wilson put the ball away from the right side as the Cascades and Spartans are tied 5-5 early in the third set.#GoCascades pic.twitter.com/Nbip055nOd

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) December 4, 2021

The Cascades showed their quality in the third set – they scored the first three points of the frame, capped by a Grace Warkentin ace, and were level at 16-16 after a Kristen McBride kill. It was all Spartans from that point, though, as they closed on another 9-2 run highlighted by three Meaghan Mealey kills.

Sadie Wilson's six kills led the Cascades, setter Cailin Bitter had 16 assists and added four kills, and libero Emily Matsui's seven digs were a team-high.

Purdy, with 10 kills at .455, led the Spartan attack, while Mealey and Kaylee Plouffe each added six kills. 

The Cascades volleyball teams return to conference action Jan. 14-15, when they host their long-awaited home openers vs. UBC Okanagan.

"What we're developing in this first semester is our resiliency," said Rozema. "If these are the kinds of things we're encountering now and we're developing coping skills, I think it's going to help us long-term."

- with files from Scott Stewart, TWU Athletics