WVB: Cascades prevail over MRU in a tight matchup

Box Score
CALGARY, AB –  A Saturday night thriller.

In a heated battle, the University of Fraser Valley Cascades women’s volleyball team downed the Mount Royal University Cougars 3-2 (25-11, 22-25, 25-12, 23-25, 9-15) in a game that went the distance at Kenyon Court.  

Just as they did in Friday’s game, Mount Royal came out blazing hot and controlled the pace of the opening set. MRU served aces from Emma Boyd, Bronwynn Davies-Neira, Jessica Osczevski and Sydney Scatcherd, helping swing the momentum firmly in the home team’s favour. The Cougars were playing a resilient, no-quit style of volleyball, which carried them to another first-set win. 

Cascades head coach Janelle Rozema needed her squad to start fresh for the second set and if the Cougars learned anything from Friday’s game, it’s to not let up against a team as powerful as UFV.

After losing the first set by 14, Fraser Valley recollected themselves and battled to grab control of the game. Mount Royal found themselves committing unforced errors and the Cascades took advantage, pounding kills any shot they could. 

Gabrielle Attieh served up an ace putting the Cascades up by six midway through the set, forcing MRU head coach Shane Smith to call a timeout. However, UFV continued to thrive. Mount Royal got sloppy with their passing and the Cascades knocked down several party ball kills.

The Cougars battled back to keep it close but Fraser Valley was able to scrape by to even the set score at one. UFV veteran middle Mo Likness excelled for her team, posting six kills in the set.

Into the third set, it started to feel like there was something about the south side of Kenyon Court. Mount Royal headed back to the side of the court they started on and resumed playing as they did in the first set. Led by libero Sarah McKillican, the Cougars significantly improved their passing, making their transition to offence seamless. Jessica Osczevski repeatedly made impact plays for MRU, as she has done all year. Lexi Herrod sealed the 13-point set victory with a thunderous block.

Similar to the second set, UFV regrouped well to keep themselves in the game. The Cascades and Cougars each showcased playoff-like competitiveness. The fourth set winded down to the last few points with neither side grasping a firm lead. Ultimately, Fraser Valley snatched a two-point win capped off by a booming kill from Gabrielle Attieh, sending the game to a deciding fifth set.

Temperatures rose, roofs were raised and both teams locked into an intense battle. 

A surprise to nobody, neither team would give an inch in the first half of the set.
As the teams switched sides for the homestretch, the Cascades flipped a switch. Talia Attieh grabbed a hold of the UFV attack and finished the game off for Fraser Valley. Attieh finished the game with 13 kills and three blocks. Jessica Osczevski led the Cougars with a season-high 17 kills in the crushing loss.
 
The Cougars move to 4-14 through 18 games in the Canada West season while UFV leaves Calgary with a 13-3 record as both teams enter their bye week.