KAMLOOPS – A back-and-forth battle throughout the entire match went the way of the Fraser Valley Cascades Saturday night as the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's volleyball team fell by a score of 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-27, 15-4).
After the teams split the opening four sets, the fifth and final frame was all Fraser Valley as the home team picked up the victory to sweep the season series between the squads 4-0.
Seray Altay,
Brooklyn Olfert and
Erin Mutch spearheaded the WolfPack attack, finshing with 13, 12 and nine kills respectively while Altay and Olfert also recorded a pair of blocks.
Anastasiia Muzyka did it all for the WolfPack with 28 assists 2.5 blocks and 16 digs.
Amanda Matsui had a dominant performance for the Cascades, leading both teams with 26 kills on her 53 attacks. Cailin Bitter recorded 47 assists in the victory.
A WolfPack run late in the first set was the difference in the frame. With the teams tied at 19, kills from
Hayley McNaught and Olfert gave the WolfPack the lead before Altay finished off the set with back-to-back kills.
Fraser Valley rebounded in the second set thanks in large part to a five point swing in the latter portion of the set. With the WolfPack leading 19-17, the Cascades got a pair of service aces from Mo Likness and rode that momentum all the way to take a 22-19 edge. The 'Pack tried to rally late, but the Cascades were able to take the 25-22 set win.
A third set that was up for grabs was won by a Cascades team that proved to be just a little sharper late in the set. The WolfPack led 22-21 after a
Siobhan Toal service ace but three straight Cascades points gave the hosts a lead they wouldn't surrender with a kill from Matsui ending the set.
With their backs against the wall the WolfPack responded in the fourth. Back-to-back blocks from Muzyka and Olfert gave the WolfPack a 21-17 advantage. The Cascades roared back to send the set to extra points but an ace from
Kate Lamothe finished things off at 27-25.
Unfortunately for a WolfPack team looking for their second win of the season, the fifth set was all Cascades as they rolled to the 15-4 set victory.
TRU will return to Kamloops next weekend where they will host the Trinity Western Spartans Feb. 11-12.
