Kelowna, BC – The USPORTS No. 2 ranked UFV Cascades picked up a four set win (25-16, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21) over the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday afternoon in Kelowna. Talia Attieh posted match highs in kills (12) and blocks (5) as UFV picked up their fourth win in a row.

The win sees the Cascades move to 8-1 in Canada West play this season, while the Heat drop to 3-4.

How it Happened:
The Cascades raced out to an early 5-0 lead with Cailin Bitter at the service line. After the Heat clawed back within one point in the middle portion of the set, the Cascades pulled away once more to take it 25-16 on the strength of six opening set kills from Talia Attieh.

The second set went much the same way as the first, as th Cascades opened the second set with four straight points to take another five-point lead in the early stages of the frame. After the teams traded runs, UFV went on to finish the set 25-16.

The teams battled back-and-forth early in the third, but it was the Heat that gained an 18-13 lead in the set. UFV cut the Heat lead to 22-20, but a UBCO block and an Amaya Perry kill helped the Heat take it 25-20.

A pair of early kills in the fourth from Talia Attieh helped UFV snag an early 7-2 lead. A run from UBCO pulled it back within one at 13-12, but UFV took advantage of a pair of Heat errors and a Mo Likness block to go back up 21-16. Likness found a kill and an ace to set up match point, and they would close it out 25-21. 

Notable:
Talia Attieh led all players with five blocks, while also tying for the match lead with 12 kills and hitting .346 on the day. Lauren Attieh added 10 kills and two aces, while Mo Likness added eight kills and four blocks. Mandi Feist had a match-high 16 digs and three aces for UFV.

Olivia Boulding posted 12 kills and seven digs for UBCO, while Natalie Funk added 11.

Up next:
The Cascades and Heat meet once again at 1pm on Saturday, with the match available live on Canada West TV.

UFV students get free admission to all UFV Cascades home games with their student card, and you can keep up with all the action at gocascades.ca, or by following the UFV Cascades on social media at @ufvcascades.