It is certainly Happy Holidays at UFV’s Envision Athletic Centre
Abbotsford, BC…The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades department of athletics just finished the school’s most productive semester in the 29 years the Cascades have been competing in interuniversity sport. Coming off the winter of 2012 which saw the women’s volleyball win the national bronze medal (CCAA), the men’s basketball team earn the conference silver medal (Canada West) and the women’s basketball team qualify for the CIS regional tournament for a second straight year the Cascades improved on all fronts in the fall of 2012.
The season started with the women’s soccer team opening in the team’s new facility Exhibition Field, in Chilliwack, BC with a 3-0 victory over Mount Royal University Cougars who were playing in their first ever Canada West match. The women’s soccer team would jump out to a quick start sporting a 5-1-1 record with impressive victories over their Canada West opponents. The team would finish 6-5-1 and earn the team’s second post season berth in three years under the leadership of head coach Rob Giesbrecht. The Cascades were led by Carly Neeson, a third year forward from Maple Ridge, BC with four goal and assists. Neeson was named Cascades “Player of the Match” six times during the 12 match regular season and was invited to the CIS World University Games tryout camp in Victoria, in November, during the CIS national championship tournament.
The Cascades Chantelle Biagioni, Pitt Meadows, BC closed out her five year career with a brilliant year, posting six wins, four shutouts while making 39 saves in 10 matches. Biagioni was named Cascades “Player of the Match” twice.
Head Coach Alan Errington’s men’s soccer team finished their most productive regular season in the seven they have been affiliated with Canada West. The Cascades posted their first winning Canada West regular season with a 5-5-4 record and just missed qualifying for their first post season appearance by one point. UFV demonstrated why many around Canada West considered the Cascades the most improved program by coming from behind in three straight contests against Saskatchewan, Alberta and Victoria. UFV posted a five game unbeaten streak, the longest in their brief CIS career.
Sasa Plavsic, a fourth year Kinesiology major, from Coquitlam, BC led UFV in scoring for a third straight year. The Cascade midfielder recorded 8 goals and 3 assists. Plavsic scored eight points in the final weekend of the season including setting up his younger brother, Dalibor, who scored three goals in his inaugural Canada west season. The Cascades Mark Village, Abbotsford, BC became the sixth men’s soccer player to be selected to the Canada West all-star team. The goalkeeper was named to the second team for his flawless play in the UFV net. Mark posted four wins, recorded four shutouts and finished with a 1.25 goals against average.
On the college level, in the PACWEST, the men’s golf team captured the conference championship on basically the final “putt” of the 2012 regular season. UFV trailed Camosun College Chargers (Victoria, BC) basically the entire season and caught them on the final day of the fourth tournament, hosted by UFV, in Chilliwack. Aaron Pauls, Chilliwack, BC, who landed the winning putt, had an amazing final weekend shooting 138 for the weekend and finishing second overall, in the conference. Aaron was named a PACWEST all-star and a week later as the CCAA selected an inaugural All-Canadian team, the Kinesiology major was selected a first team all-star. The Cascades finished 8th at the 2012 CCAA national championship tournament in Oshawa, Ontario.
The Cascades coach Chris Bertram was named the PACWEST Coach of the Year for leading UFV to the title. This was Chris’ second coach of the year honor in three years.
The men’s and women’s rowing team had their best showing at the Canadian University Rowing Championships (CURC) in their 12 years as a varsity team. The women finished 8th out of 20 schools participating and the men 7th. The 34 team points by the women’s team was a new point total at the championships. “We made UFV history this weekend, in some key races,” commented UFV head coach Liz Chisholm.
The men’s basketball team underwent several “key” changes during the summer, the Cascades appointed Adam Friesen as UFV’s third head coach since joining the CIS. Friesen is no stranger to the Envision Athletic Centre having served as the Cascades top assistant coach the past five years. UFV started the season ranked 4th in Canada and are currently 6th in the CIS top ten poll. UFV sits at 7-3, in second place in the Pacific Division of Canada West and are currently riding a five game winning streak. Led by fifth year veteran Kyle Grewal, averaging 15.3 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game, the Cascades have also seen first year guard Kevon Parchment, Toronto, Ontario burst onto the scene averaging 19.3 points per game close to 3 steals and blocked shots per game. The Kinesiology major was named the Canada West Male Athlete of the Week, for the week ending December 2.
Coach Al Tuchscherer has been grooming the women’s basketball team for the past three years with a team of local student-athletes that have taken Canada by surprise. Ranked second in the CIS top ten poll, the women’s basketball team, share the top record, at 9-1, with Regina and Calgary at the break, in Canada West. UFV won nine straight games to open the Canada West regular season, a new school record and the best start of any UFV team in Canada West over the seven years.
Led by Sarah Wierks and Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC, the two sisters have led the team in scoring six of the ten games. Sarah leads UFV with 13.3 points per game, with Nicole right behind her at 12.1. Kayli Sartori, Chilliwack, BC had the one most productive night so far this year scoring a personal career high 27 points against Brandon University, on November 30th. The second year Kinesiology major is averaging 11.8 points per game and was a force to be reckoned with UFV’s record breaking double overtime win, 88-82, over UBC in Vancouver on November 17th.
The women’s volleyball team has been making college history over the past two years, but on November 26th the team hit the pinnacle as it was named the CCAA’s Number One team in their top ten rankings. This marks the first time in the program’s nine years that the team is considered the best in Canada. Coach Dennis Bokenfohr has built a very talented local based team led by All-Canadian Kayla Bruce, Surrey, BC. The two-time PACWEST all-star has been named PACWEST Athlete of the Week, once and Cascades athlete of week twice in the fall semester. The team is built around veterans like fifth year captain Brittany Stewart, Walnut Grove, BC and Krista Hogewoning, Delta, BC also honored by PACWEST as the athlete of the week (November 12th). The team sports an 11-1 record going into the second semester where they will face their arch rivals VIU Mariners (Nanaimo, BC), defending CCAA national champions, the weekend of February 1-2 for the PACWEST regular season title.
The men’s volleyball team is in a rebuilding year with a rookie laden roster. The team currently sits in 7th place in the PACWEST conference with a 1-11 record. Coach Greg Russell has depended on second year left side Victor Zych, Port Coquitlam, BC and third year left side Josh Togeretz, Yarrow, BC for on court leadership as the Cascades make a push to earn a post season berth in the winter semester. UFV is only game out of a PACWEST playoff spot.
The Cascades are having a Happy Holiday this mid-season break. With the department of athletics growing each day and new school records being established every weekend, the fans and supporters of the Cascades can only be excited for the New Year and what great success it can bring. On behalf of Rocky Olfert, Director of Athletics, the Cascades wish all our opponents, fans and sponsors a very Happy Holiday and we look forward to competing in the New Year in both the CIS and CCAA.
Comments are closed.