CALGARY – The University of Fraser Cascades came up with the key plays in the clutch moments for a 3-0 win over the University of Calgary Dinos women’s volleyball team Friday evening from the Jack Simpson Gym.
The match was much closer than the final score indicates, with all the sets coming right down to the wire, but it was UFV that was able to find a way in all three in the win, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21.
Fraser Valley stays hot with its fifth straight win – and fourth straight sweep – to improve to 5-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the loss snaps a three-game win streak for Calgary, now falling to 3-4 on the year.
Reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year Gabrielle Attieh led the way with a double-double on 15 kills and 10 digs. Lauren Attieh tied her sister for the game high with 15 kills to go with six digs. Kinna Fisher dished out 42 assists in the three-set win to go with 13 digs in an impressive performance at setter.
Sophie Reed had a strong night at the net for the Dinos, finishing with a team-high 14 kills to go with six digs. Rookie Anya Fehr tallied 16 assists and Carolyn Berze racked up a game-high 14 digs.
The Dinos took it to the preseason favourites right out of the gates, claiming a 13-8 lead after an early kill by Sheridan Coninx. Calgary would hold that lead until a 5-0 run by the Cascades gave them their first lead at 20-18. Things stayed tight down the stretch but a kill by Talia Attieh put things away and gave UFV the first set.
Things were back-and-forth early in the second with Calgary once again the first to create separation, finishing a 6-2 run with back-to-back aces from Coninx for a 16-13 edge. The Dinos held that advantage until another late run by Fraser Valley tied things up at 23-all. L. Attieh was able to find the floor before an ace from G. Attieh suddenly made it 2-0.
It was a similar script in the third. After splitting the first 30 points, UFV claimed a slight lead at 18-16. Calgary was within two points until the end, but couldn’t quite get over the hump as the Cascades finished off the sweep.
UFV finished the night hitting .200, while the Dinos had a .189 attack. Calgary finished with a 7-5 edge in blocks on the night, while the Cascades had a slight advantage in the service aces column, 5-3.
The two teams are right back at it Saturday at 6:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the men’s game.