Despite three sets being decided by just two-points, the UFV Cascades dropped a four-set decision (26-28, 16-25, 29-27, 23-25) to the Brandon University Bobcats on Saturday in Manitoba. 

The Cascades fall to 6-10 with the result, while Brandon improves to 6-8 with the win. 

How it happened:
The Cascades held a 20-18 lead in the first, but five straight Bobcat points flipped the advantage. The Cascades would fend off a couple of set points, and even earn one of their own, but Brandon eventually found the edge on a Philipp Lauter ace to take it 28-26.

An 11-4 run in the second gave the Bobcats a 16-7 lead, as they cruised to the set win.

UFV battled back in the third, with three quick service aces from Nimo Benne putting the visitors up 5-1. The Bobcats quickly pulled even, and the teams traded points throughout the bulk of the frame until the score was tied up at 27. From there another Benne ace, and a kill from Jonas Van Huizen would force the game into another set.

The fourth was a hard-fought battle up to 23-23, but once again it was the Bobcats that would find the margin required, as they took advantage of a UFV error before scoring a block to end it 25-23.

Notable:
Jonas Van Huizen led the way with 18 kills and 14 digs for UFV, while Benne added nine kills and five aces. Middles Ryan Hampe and Tyson Ardell each had six kills in the match.

Quotable:
UFV head coach Nathan Bennett

"We played our hearts out there this weekend, but we just came up a bit short with two good teams going at it in a really highly contested volleyball match. It's tough to deal with when you are really close, but at the end of the day we are going to recover our minds, and bodies and prepare for another opportunity in a couple of weeks."

Up next:
The Cascades now have a week off before they take on the Trinity Western Spartans on February 6 and 7 in a home-and-home matchup.