Abbotsford, BC – The U SPORTS No. 6 ranked UFV Cascades fell in four sets (20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22) to the nation's top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds on Friday at the UFV Athletic Centre. UBC sees their perfect record improve to 9-0 so far this season, while UFV drops to 6-3 with the result.

As it happened: 
A pair of Issy Robertshaw aces gave the Thunderbirds a small lead in the first set, before a pair of kills from Katarina Pantovic helped them increase their advantage to 11-6. A four-serve run from Lucy Borowski pushed the lead to 16-9, and UBC looked to be cruising at 20-12. Back-to-back kills from UFV's Mo Likness, were closely followed by Likness and Gabrielle Attieh combining twice for blocks to pull the Cascades back within three points at 21-18. However, the Thunderbirds found a pair of blocks themselves, and a kill from Claire Cossarini sealed the opening set.

Likness and G. Attieh combined again for a pair of blocks, and Lauren Attieh picked up two kills, as UFV jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the second. A couple of late runs from UBC pulled it back to 18-16, but four consecutive points from the Cascades gave them the 25-19 set win.

UBC took advantage of a few early errors from UBC to take an 8-4 lead in the third. A pair of kills from Elizabeth Lee helped them make it 20-13, and two Pantovic kills down the stretch closed out the set for the Thunderbirds.

The teams traded blows early in the fourth, but seven straight points from UBC gave them a 13-7 lead that they carried into the late stages. With the score 24-17 UFV pushed to extend the match, scoring five straight including two L. Attieh kills, but the rally came too late as the Thunderbirds finally closed it out 25-22.

Top performers: 
Lauren Attieh led all players with 15 kills and 16 points in the match for UFV, while Likness finished with seven blocks. Libero Emily Matsui ended with a team-high 18 digs.

Pantovic had a team-high 13 kills, while Borowski had nine kills and three aces for UBC. Kacey Jost had a team-best 17 digs in the win.

Quotable:
Cascades outside hitter Lauren Attieh

"They were targeting some other players on our side, which opened up some chances for me. Kinna [Fisher] had a great night dishing me some great sets, so I think my opportunities are a good example of other people on the team putting in the work and drawing the blockers to let me have my moments."

"It teeters and totters. In the set we won there was a pretty big deficit and vice versa for the other ones, but I think that's just what happens when you have two really good teams battling it out.

Up next:
The Cascades and Thunderbirds will face-off once again on Saturday in Abbotsford. Game time is set for 6:45 p.m. and the match can be seen live and on-demand on Canada West TV.