Langley, BC – The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team won the first set but went on to drop a four-set decision to the Trinity Western Spartans on Friday at the Langley Events Centre. 

The game was the season opener for both teams, with the set scores finishing 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19 in favour of the host Spartans. 

As it happened: 
After falling behind 21-18 in the first set, UFV got a spark from rookie outside hitter Mandi Feist, who picked up a pair of kills and an ace to level the score at 22. Two kills by Lauren Attieh and a TWU attack error sealed the opening set for the Cascades. 

The Spartans answered back quickly in the second set, building an 18-11 lead on the back of a pair of service runs from Tamar Bill. However, UFV pushed back with Feist and Mo Likness picking up a pair of kills, and Lauren Attieh knocking down three, as the Cascades closed the gap to just one. The Spartans found a pair of late Kaylee Plouffe kills to take the second 25-23.

Trinity Western took control of the third in the middle portion of the set. With the score level at 14, four kills from Maryn Bolden, and a pair from Plouffe gave them a lead they would not relinquish as the set ended 25-20.

A 15-6 Spartan lead early in the fourth proved to be too much to come back from as the final set ended 25-19 for TWU.  

Serving proved to be a difference maker in this one, as the Spartans posted nine aces in the match compared to just one from UFV. The Cascades also committed 18 service errors, as opposed to 11 from TWU.

Top performers: 
Lauren Attieh notched a team-high 15 kills and 13 digs for UFV in the match. Teammates Talia Attieh, and Feist each ended with 10 kills in their first Canada West match. Cascades' newcomer Natalie Crews posted a .429 hitting percentage on 14 attacks from the middle.

Bolden posted a match-high 19 kills for Trinity Western, while Plouffe finished with 15 kills, three aces, and five blocks in the contest.

Quotable:
Cascades head coach Janelle Rozema

"We started out really strong, and had moments seeing some of the best volleyball that we have played, but we didn't have those high moments at the right point in the match, or consistently enough."

"That was the first Canada West match for Brooklyn [Brodner], Natalie Crews, Talia [Attieh], and Mandi [Feist]. We're still trying to figure out how to play with each other, so that consistent execution piece is missing. The longer, and the more we play together, the more consistent our execution is going to be. "

Up next:
The Cascades and Spartans renew acquaintances on Saturday at 4pm in the Langley Events Centre. The game is also available live and on demand at Canada West TV.