UFV's Joel Kliengeltink spikes the ball during Pacwest volleyball action on Friday.

UFV's Joel Kliengeltink spikes the ball during Pacwest volleyball action on Friday.

Cascades volleyball teams end year strong

Men's, women's teams take three of four games from Capilano

The UFV Cascades men’s volleyball team ended the Pacwest calendar year on a high note, sweeping the Capilano Blues in two games on Friday and Saturday.

The two teams traded wins over the first four sets, and then battled in a fifth set that saw the Cascades fend off three Blues match points to win 18-16 (3-2).

UFV took care of the Blues in four sets (25-19, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22) on Saturday, and are now a perfect 5-0 on home court this season. The team’s overall record is 7-5, already matching last season’s win total. “We’ve got work to do over the break before we get going in the second semester, but I feel good about where we’re at and where I think we can get to in the next month or so,” said head coach Kyle Donen.

The men’s team sits third in the Pacwest heading into the winter break.

The Cascades women’s team pulled off an upset on Friday, beating the nationally seventh-ranked Blues in four sets (25-23, 11-25, 25-22, 25-23).

“Our blocking and defence were definitely what led us tonight,” he said. “We had 25 digs in one game and 15 in another, and I think that just says so much about what our blocking was doing.”

The Cascades couldn’t keep the momentum going, as they fell in straight sets (25-23, 25-16, 25-16) to the Blues on Saturday.

The women sit in fifth place in the Pacwest, with a record of four wins and eight losses.

Over at CBC, the struggles for the Bearcats men’s volleyball team continue.

The Bearcats lost both games in straight sets to the Douglas Royals, and remain winless.

The women’s team managed a split against the Royals, winning 3-0 on Friday, but losing 3-1 on Saturday. The women’s team now has a record of three wins and nine losses, and they sit in seventh place.

UFV and CBC return to the court on Jan. 8 and 9, when they host Camosun and VIU respectively.

Abbotsford News