Kelowna, BC – Talia Attieh notched a team-high eight aces as the UFV Cascades came out with a five-set victory (25-17, 25-23, 24-26, 19-25, 15-11) over the UBC Okanagan Heat on Saturday. That mark of eight service aces in a match sets a new Cascades' program record since joining Canada West, and also ties for the seventh highest match total in conference history. Teammate Gabrielle Attieh currently holds the second spot on that conference list thanks to an 11 ace performance for UBC in 2020. 

The Cascades win moves them to 19-3, as they head into the final weekend of the season next week against the University of Alberta. UBC Okanagan drops to 9-13 this year with the defeat. 

How it Happened
A pair of aces from Natalie Crews had the Cascades rolling in the opening set, and two more aces from T. Attieh gave UFV a 20-12 lead. Despite some pushback, two consecutive G. Attieh kills allowed UFV to close it out.

Four aces from T. Attieh in the early going of the second set helped the Cascades jump out to an 11-4 advantage. The Heat would claw back through the middle portion of the set to tie it at 21 after a pair of Amaya Perry kills. However, UFV answered back with kills from Crews and T. Attieh to finish off the set.

UFV looked to finish off the match in the third, but with the Heat trailing 23-22, Perry found two kills and an ace to keep her team alive.

After the Heat took the fourth set, they jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the fifth. The Cascades battled back with a pair of Mo Likness kills to tie up the set, and T. Attieh finished off another serving run with an ace to take the 8-5 lead. Both teams traded short runs, but a Kinna Fisher ace was followed up by a T. Attieh kill to end the match 15-11 for UFV.

Top Performers:
Talia Attieh had 13 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks to go with her eight aces in the match to lead the Cascades. Gabrielle Attieh posted a match-high 19 kills and 25 digs, while Cailin Bitter notched 35 assists for UFV. 

Amaya Perry had 17 kills and 20 digs to lead the Heat, while Abigail Dueck posted 32 assists.

Quotable:
Cascades head coach Janelle Rozema

"I think we are just learning that we need to sustain a good serve-receive game for longer. I think we played a better game plan match today, but a bit of our ball control broke down at key times."

"It was a pretty rowdy environment, and it simulated the vibe of playoffs with the energy and the noise. To be able to emotionally regulate when the crowd was against us is another badge that we are going to put on our shoulder."

Up next:
The Cascades return home to face the University of Alberta next weekend to close out the season on Friday and Saturday. Saturday's match will also be the team's annual senior night, where the Cascades will honour graduating fifth-year players Gabrielle Attieh and Kristen McBride.