Edmonton, AB – The UFV Cascades dropped a three-set decision to the U SPORTS no. 1 ranked Alberta Golden Bears on Friday. With set scores of 25-8, 25-15, and 25-23 the Golden Bears improve to 10-1 on the year, while UFV drops to 2-9 so far. 

Alberta ran away with the opening set going up 20-7, before finishing it off 25-8.

The Golden Bears continued that form into the second, as they took an 11-3 lead early, before coasting to a 25-15 set win. 

UFV battled back in the third, as they went blow for blow with the Golden Bears, but with the score level at 23 Alberta found kills from Braedon Friesen and Isaac Heslinga to close out the match 25-23.

Friesen led the Golden Bears with 12 kills in the match, while Jordan Canham had 11, and Cam Kern added 37 assists. 

Nimo Benne provided nine kills for UFV, while Caleb Kastelein had six, and Max Paddock had 19 assists. 

"Everybody had a rough night tonight," explained UFV head coach Nathan Bennett. 

"We are playing the best team in the country, and they are the best team in the country for a reason. Our side needs to be better from the start."

The two teams face off again on Saturday at 4 p.m. (PT), as the Cascades close out their fall semester schedule.