Calgary, AB — The Mount Royal Cougars volleyball team faced a tough season opener, falling to the Fraser Valley Cascades in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-22) on October 25, 2024, at home in Calgary. 

"We played a really solid match in a really exciting home opener environment for our opponent," explained UFV head coach Janelle Rozema.

"We controlled our first contact with great passing and defense. Tomorrow, we aim to be a bit more strategic and threatening with our offense and serving."

Despite flashes of strong play, the Cougars were unable to match the Cascades' consistent attack and balanced defense, leading to a 3-0 sweep. UFV setter Cailin Bitter led on both sides of the court, picking up 16 assists while adding 10 digs and two blocks. 

Fraser Valley took charge early in the first set, with Mo Likness and Lauren Attieh establishing a powerful offensive rhythm. Attieh finished the match with an impressive 10 kills and a .310 hitting percentage, while Likness hit .500 with 5 kills and 2 blocks. Mount Royal countered with aggressive play from outside hitter Emma Boyd and middle blocker Mya Morgan, who worked to contain the Cascades' offense. Boyd led the Cougars with 10 kills on the day and added a service ace, while Morgan contributed four kills and three blocks. Although the Cougars managed to keep the score close at times, Fraser Valley's consistency in both serving and defense allowed them to maintain control, closing out the first set 25-19. 

In the second set, the Cougars put up a more cohesive front, with setter Alexa Herrod finding key connections with her attackers, including Bronwynn Davies-Neira and Grace Coulter. Herrod recorded 21 assists, helping Mount Royal keep pace with Fraser Valley's fast offense. Davies-Neira delivered five kills and led the team in digs with 11, adding depth to the Cougars' back row defense. A notable rally saw Mount Royal cut Fraser Valley's lead to just one point late in the set, but the Cougars were undone by Fraser Valley's precise serving, including a timely ace from Zoe Arca. The Cascades took advantage of Mount Royal's service errors, winning the set 25-22 despite the Cougars' best efforts. 

The third set saw UFV continue to push, with Talia Attieh adding critical kills and Fisher's effective setting guiding their offense smoothly. The Cougars briefly took a lead midway through the set, but Fraser Valley's combined defensive and offensive efforts pulled them back into the game. A late service ace by Megan Jones kept Mount Royal's hopes alive, but a kill by Likness closed the set and match for Fraser Valley at 25-22. 

Overall, Fraser Valley's efficiency in both hitting and blocking was the key factor in their victory, with a .165 team hitting percentage compared to Mount Royal's .113. Mount Royal struggled with consistency, committing 15 service errors throughout the match, which limited their ability to build momentum. Fraser Valley's blocking, with six solo blocks, disrupted Mount Royal's rhythm, while the Cougars' 11 blocking assists helped them stay competitive at the net. 

The Cascades and Cougars will battle again tomorrow, with the rematch set for 5 PM MT.