The UFV Cascades ended their season in a match against the University of Calgary (U of C) Dinos on Friday, Feb. 21 with a score of 3-1. The Cascades lost their best-of-three play-in series in two games at the Jack Simpson Gym in Calgary, Alberta. Game 1 saw the Cascades fall 3-2 on Thursday night, followed by Friday night’s 3-1 loss. For Calgary, the win sent them into the Canada West quarter-finals against the University of Alberta (U of A) Golden Bears.
The Cascades cruised through their first two sets against the Dinos on Thursday, Feb. 20. Calgary, however, swept the momentum back with authority, stealing the next three sets straight to claim Game 1 for the Dinos, finishing 3-2.
“The first two sets went really well for us”, UFV’s second-year setter, Silas Van Huizen, commented. “We were really in control. [In] the third set, they made some adjustments … We weren’t really expecting them to push back like that … It came down to our serving and our passing; they had a lot more aces and a lot less errors. We were leading every category besides serving, basically. It was definitely a tough game.”
On the front lines, Nimo Benne and Jonas Van Huizen kept the score close in Game 1, finishing with 16 and 19 Kills (K), respectively. In unison, Ryan Hampe owned defence at the net, claiming more than half of UFV’s 17 blocks versus Calgary’s six.
The Dinos outmatched the Cascade’s aggression at the endline, securing double the amount of aces, placing excess pressure on the team in an uphill battle. The Dinos had 10 Service Aces (SA), compared to the Cascades’ 5, also incurring only 14 Service Errors (SE) to the Cascades’ 27.
S. Van Huizen attributed the three set finisher to the Dinos knocking the Cascades out of rhythm.
“Credit to [Calgary], they definitely picked it up. Our passing [and] execution got a little bit worse. I noticed as a team [that] when we pass good, we play good. So it definitely affected our game.”
The Dinos came out stronger in Game 2, solidifying the first two sets 25-22 and 25-19. UFV retaliated back in direct response during the third set, gaining a seven point lead with Benne securing 3 SA in a row, pushing the Cascades past the 20 point threshold with the Dinos trailing behind (20-13). The Cascades held on for a 25-18 third-set victory.
S. Van Huizen suggested that losing three straight sets in Game 1 may have carried into the following match.
“[It was] definitely in the back of our heads. Besides that I think we actually moved on pretty well and started fresh next game.”
Forced into a fourth set at a score of 2-1, the Dinos displayed their maturity as a team, digging in deep with a 25-20 decision.
Calgary excelled at their offence, marking their kill efficiency at .363 per cent compared to UFV’s .302 per cent in Game 2. The Dinos’ Erik Godwin was recognized as Canada West BioSteel Men’s Volleyball Player of the Week for his impressive performance, particularly in his serving. Godwin secured six of the Dinos’ 10 SA in Game 1, while also tallying 16 K, with a .314 hitting percentage. In Game 2, Godwin improved his kill efficiency, with 10 K on .348 hitting and also secured 6 Digs (D) for the Dinos.
The Dinos have been on the play-off bubble for the past couple of years, giving them postseason experience that the Cascades lacked.
“Going on from here, we have that experience now, and that can make a difference in the play-offs,” stated S. Van Huizen.
Despite the loss, CW second-team all star J. Van Huizen of the Cascades finished Game 2 with 20 K, hitting at a .359 per cent clip while also securing 1 SA and 5 D.
Calgary moved on to face the Golden Bears in the quarter-finals, who beat out the Dinos 3-0 on Friday, Feb. 28. With a golden ticket to the Final Four, the Golden Bears will battle the UBC Thunderbirds on Mar. 7 in Winnipeg, MB.
With five graduating seniors, S. Van Huizen is eagerly anticipating his new role on a young team moving forward.
“Definitely excited to have a bigger role here. I’ve usually been one of the younger guys on the team, especially this team … It’s gonna be a little different being one of the older guys and needing to have some wisdom for the younger guys.”
At every end, there is space for a new beginning, and it is clear that the UFV Cascades are only getting started.
