The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team turned in a tough-minded performance on their home court on Friday evening, knocking off the Brandon Bobcats in four sets for the first playoff win in program history.
The Cascades prevailed 25-23, 13-25, 28-26, 25-15 before an enthusiastic crowd at the UFV Athletic Centre, improving to 1-1 in Pool A play while leaving Brandon with a matching 1-1 mark.
UFV wraps up the round-robin event on Saturday vs. the 0-2 Calgary Dinos (4 p.m., UFV Athletic Centre), and can all but assure themselves of a spot in the second round of the CW playoffs with a win. Brandon wraps things up against the Trinity Western Spartans (2-0) at 6 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
"It confirms what we've been trying to believe in all along," Cascades head coach
Janelle Rozema said afterward, reflecting on the landmark result. "We're here to win. We're not just here to be happy to be a part of the playoffs. We have a goal to be a winning program, a championship program, and every time we figure out how to win in a season like this, we're learning.
"I think that's just going to go to the future of this program, and beyond."
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The Cascades got off to a strong start, opening an 11-5 lead in the first set behind a four-point
Amanda Matsui service run, capped by back-to-back aces. The Bobcats were able to close to within 12-11, with Taryn Hannah picking up a trio of key kills, and they would go on to build a 22-20 edge. UFV would score four points in a row, though, siding out via a
Grace Warkentin kill and then reeling off three points with Liz Baird at the service line. Warkentin would close it out 25-23 with a kill.
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The second set was all Brandon – they opened leads of 5-1 and 7-2 early, and served tough throughout the set to blitz the Cascades 25-13.
The visitors appeared poised to take the third set, leading 24-22, but the Cascades staved off two set points as
Kristen McBride notched a kill and
Amanda Matsui followed with a service ace. Later on, tied 26-26, rookie middle
Mo Likness hammered an emphatic kill to give set point to UFV, and McBride closed it out with a service ace.
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The Cascades left no doubt in the fourth set, building leads of 5-1 and 14-7, and cruising from there.
Matsui racked up a game-high 16 kills for the Cascades, including one that set off a celebration on match point. Warkentin had a big night, contributing 14 kills and hitting .273, and Likness had nine kills on 14 swings with no errors for a .643 hitting mark.
Cailin Bitter posted 28 assists, and libero
Emily Matsui excelled on her way to 24 digs.
Rookie
Lian Shworts also stepped up for the Cascades – with starting right side
Sadie Wilson sidelined due to injury, Shworts was inserted into the lineup and had two kills and six digs.
"We've had some real special moments this year when our team is hurting," Rozema said, alluding to the fact that her squad earned its first-ever CW victory at UBC back in November with
Amanda Matsui sidelined. "I think it was the same thing today with Sadie. Rather than feeling sorry for ourselves, we were excited to see what Lian could do, and she did a great job."
Ravyn Wiebe led the way for the Bobcats with 14 kills, Keely Anderson had 11 kills, and setter Jamie Bain posted 32 assists.
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