The Columbia Bible College Bearcats were riding a wave of emotion in their final home game of the season on Friday, but the University of the Fraser Valley women’s volleyball team weathered the storm and ultimately seized control.
The Bearcats won the first set 25-15, but the Cascades bounced back to win the next three by scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-20.
UFV boosted its record to 12-11, good for fourth place in the PacWest, while keeping their crosstown rivals winless at 0-23.
“It was one of those nights where CBC was playing their last home game, so they were playing with some extra energy,” Cascades head coach Dennis Bokenfohr said. “They came out swinging for the fences, and they were having some success early on. We were having a slow start, but once we figured things out, we settled down and things started going our way a bit.”
The CCAA No. 14-ranked Cascades were coming off a confidence-building three-set win over the No. 9-ranked Capilano Blues last Saturday, and Bokenfohr felt his team maintained its positive momentum.
“The girls are definitely playing the game the right way right now,” he said. “The intent is spot-on, and the energy is focused. It’s where we want to be right now, that’s for sure.”
The Cascades and Bearcats complete their home-and-home weekend set with games on Saturday at UFV’s Student Activity Centre North Gym. Games run at 6 p.m. (women) and 8 p.m. (men), and the Cascades will honour their graduating players between games. Honourees include Kierra Noot, Katie Peacock, Emily Carroll and Sarah Russell of the women’s team, and Josh Togeretz, Chris Schmitke and Kurtis Stromdahl of the men’s squad.
“It’s definitely going to be an emotional night for those that are graduating,” Bokenfohr said. “It’ll be interesting to see how that goes, because sometimes when you play with a lot of emotions, it can affect you. But I have high expectations that the girls will be locked in.”
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