EDMONTON – Mandi Feist led the UFV Cascades with 14 kills but the team unfortunately dropped a 3-2 result (25-15, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12) against the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked Alberta Pandas on Saturday night at the Saville Centre.

It was a phenomenal conclusion to an incredible weekend series from the two teams, who tied 6-6 in terms of sets won in the two tight matches. Alberta jumps to 5-1 and sits in second place in the Canada West, while UFV is a strong 3-3 in the campaign to boot.

How it happened:
The Pandas jumped out to a 9-4 lead and forced a UFV timeout. Alberta would not let up the rest of the way, winning the opening frame 25-15. 

After a strong 6-1 run to start the second set, the Cascades faded mid set to let the hosts tie the game back up at 14-14. It was an incredibly tight set, with the score inching to 21-21 before an exciting 4-2 run would put a bow on a UFV win. Mandi Feist was the star for the visitors, finishing with a set-high five kills including the emphatic winner.

It was another tight set in the third, as the two sides battled all the way to the end of a 25-22 UFV win. 

The Pandas would rectify their larger errors and strengthen their defence, especially on the block line, as they took the fourth 25-21 and led for the entire frame. 

UFV got off to a great start in the final frame, led by Lauren Attieh who had an ace and a kill, as they held a 8-5 advantage at the halfway mark. Alberta would scrape and claw its way back into the set, eventually knotting the score at 11 and forcing successive Cascade timeouts. Allie Moore came up with two massive back-to-back blocks to put the Pandas on match point, which was promptly finished by Mackenzie Pool as the Pandas eked out a tight 15-12, 3-2 victory.

Notable:
Mandi feist led the Cascades with 14 kills, while Lauren and Talia Attieh added 11 kills apiece. Setter Cailin Bitter added 40 assists and 14 digs on the night, while middle Zoe Arca also had a strong game with 8 kills and only one error to go along with four blocks.

Abby Guezen had a game-high 15 kills for Alberta, while Pool added 14 on the night.

Up next:
The Pandas head on their bye week before a home faceoff against the MRU Cougars, while UFV returns home to take on the UBCO Heat.

- with files from Connor McCallister / University of Alberta