Fraser Valley proves too much in opener

Abbotsford, B.C. – Sophia Hansen had a team-high 12 kills – already the 11th time the rookie has tallied double-digit kills on the year – as the UFV Cascades downed the Calgary Dinos in three sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-20) Friday night from the UFV Athletic Centre.

The USPORTS No. 2 ranked Cascades improve to 10-1 on the season with the win, while Calgary drops to 3-10 on the campaign.

UFV jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the first set off a Talia Attieh kill, but a Calgary run would put the visitors up 10-9. The Cascades would eke out a 16-13 advantage, before pushing it to 23-19 on a Lauren Attieh kill. The Dinos pulled back within a couple, but an ace from Cailin Bitter ended it 25-22.

UFV took control in the second, leading wire to wire as they closed it out 25-18. 

Calgary looked to climb back into the match in the third by opening the set on a 6-0 run, but the Cascades composed themselves with an early timeout and battled back to tie it at 14 on a Mo Likness block. The teams traded runs with UFV going up 20-16 before Calgary tied it back at 20 apiece. The Cascades proved to be too much on the night however, as they scored the next five points before ending it on a kill from Alicja Hardy-Francis.

The Cascades and Dinos will play the rematch on Saturday at 3pm at the UFV Athletic Centre. 

-UC-