The UFV Cascades came close, but were unable to get their first win of the season in a five-set battle with the Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday afternoon at the UFV Athletic Centre.

The Cascades fell 19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 10-15, to see their record move to 0-5 on the season, while Winnipeg improves to 5-0. 

How it happened: 
The Wesmen struck first on Friday, picking up a 25-19 win in the opening set. UFV's Nimo Benne battled to put up seven kills in the opening frame, but Winnipeg's Luke Lodwyks and Jaxon Rose combined for nine kills to keep pace early on.

The Wesman kept their momentum for most of the second set with the Cascades ftrading points to keep the score level. Nearing the end, UFV pulled ahead with a service ace from Silas Van Huizen to make it 23-22.  Ryan Hampe was then able to finish off the battle with a kill, solidifying the second set for the cascades, 25-23.

Isaiah Olfert and Lodewyks put up six kills apiece for the Wesmen in the third set as Winnipeg pulled ahead again to take it 25-19.  

The Cascades would not go away quietly, as they battled back-and forth in the fourth set. UFV finally found some separation late in the set, as Jonas Van Huizen found a timely kill to make it 21-17.  J. Van Huizen then stepped up again with a huge block and another kill to close it out 25-19 and force a fifth set.

The teams traded runs through the fifth set, but after the Wesmen eked out a 12-10 lead Olfert found a kill and Paxton Koop scored a block to set up Liam Allen to finish off the match with an ace. 

Notable:
Benne led the Cascades with 17 kills and two aces, while J. Van Huizen had 15 kills. S. Van Huizen notched 39 assists and a team-high 11 digs in the effort.

Olfert finished the night with 22 kills for the Wesmen, while Lodewyks followed close behind with 18.

UFV hit .243 in the match, while Winnipeg hit .303 over the five sets. 

Up Next:
The Cascades and the Wesmen get reacquainted on Saturday afternoon, with the first serve set for 4:45pm at the UFV Athletic Centre.