WINNIPEG – Down two sets to one, the UFV Cascades stormed back to beat Manitoba in five on Saturday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre. Gabrielle Attieh tied her career high for kills, with 22 as UFV improved to 16-6. Manitoba fell to 13-9, falling six points behind UFV for fifth in the battle for playoff positioning.
Bisons setter Katreena Bentley had over 40 assists for the sixth time this year in the loss, while middle Brenna Bedosky had a season-high ten kills. The Herd had momentum throughout, but 23 errors hurt them at times.
“We have to be more disciplined against a top team in the conference, and we weren’t, for the majority of the weekend,” said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley.
“We weren’t disciplined enough when we needed to be, and just made too many mistakes. It was a good fight tonight, but we just ended too many rallies on our side tonight to end the match.
Bedosky was unstoppable in the first set. Facilitated by setter Katreena Bentley, she recorded seven kills on eight attacks, just two off her season best and four off her career high entering play.
The Cascades were the cleaner team though, hitting .393 with just two errors. Manitoba got within two at 20-18 off a Bedosky service ace, but a kill from Gabrielle Atttieh helped swing momentum back to the visitors in a first set win.
The two teams traded side outs in the second, as momentum went back and forth. Attieh had a team-high five kills and kept multiple rallies alive defensively, but strong service pressure and a balanced attack helped Manitoba take the set by five.
As she’s been known to do, captain Light Uchechukwu subbed in at a key time (Manitoba up 5-2) during the set and once again was a force. She recorded five kills and had a service ace, while Bedosky also kept the Cascades out of system with her serve.
As usual, setters Cailin Bitter and Bentley set the pace, combining for 34 assists after three. Both had a kill as well, showcasing their vision with dumps for points.
Thrilling digs on both sides drew applause from the crowd, including two pancakes from right side Ella Gray, both of which led to Bisons points. The hosts broke away in the latter portion of the set, and left side Raya Surinx recorded her fifth kill of the day cross court to end things.
Natalie Lemoine-Sell and Attieh combined for ten kills, and UFV hit .400 in a fourth set win. On the Bisons side, Gray, Bentley and Surinx all had at least eight digs entering the fifth, but the Cascades were simply too clean, adding three service aces while pulling away at the midway point of the set.
The Cascades never trailed in the fifth, getting service aces from Lemoine-Sell and Elizabeth Baird along the way in a nine-point win.
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