LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 4 Trinity Western Spartans improved earned a straight set victory over the Fraser Valley Cascades in Canada West women's volleyball action Thursday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The 25-11, 25-20, 25-17 improves the Spartans to 4-1, while the loss drops the Cascades to 1-4.
 
Outside hitter Savannah Purdy (Victoria) led the Spartans with 12 kills and seven digs, with outside Meaghan Mealey (Calgary) adding seven kills and middle Avery Heppell (Langley, B.C.) adding six kills. Setter Olivia Heinen (Langley, B.C.) led both teams with four service aces. Outside Grace Warkentin (Surrey, B.C.) with seven kills and six digs, while outside Kristen McBride (Mission, B.C.) with five kills and five digs led the Cascades.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans took control early in the opening set taking a 10-4 lead and forcing the Cascades into an early timeout. TWU expanded their lead to 15-6 and forced another timeout by UFV. Led by the serving of Heinen, who had seven straight serves, the Spartans, who led 16-8 at the media timeout, scored nine of the last 11 points to take the opening set 25-11.
 
In the second set the Cascades matched the Spartans early and trailed 7-5 and only trailed 16-12 at the media timeout. But out of the break the Spartans took control of the set. Mealey served TWU to a 19-12 lead. After exchanging points, a stuff block by the Spartans outside Ansah Odoom (Surrey, B.C.) gave TWU set point at 24-16. Strong serving including a pair of aces by UFV's Sadie Wilson pulled the Cascades to within four points, trailing 24-20. But Odoom would finish off the set with a middle attack to give TWU the game 25-20 and a 2-0 set lead over UFV.
 
The third set was a much more even affair. The two teams were even with TWU holding a 13-12 lead after UFV's Mo Likness (Mission, B.C.) found the end line on her attack. After exchanging points the Spartans Odoom went cross-court to give TWU a 16-14 lead at the break. As the set progressed to its end the Spartans gradually extended their lead. With TWU up 19-17 the Spartans Heppell served out the match with six straight serves, punctuated by a down the line attack from Purdy to end the match with a 25-17 third set win.
 
NOTABLE 

• Tonight's match is the first time the Spartans and the Cascades have met in Canada West conference action.
• The Spartans finished the night hitting .337 (38-8-89) while the Cascades finished at .011 (20-19-90)
• TWU had eight service aces to UFV's four.
• Setter Emma Gamache (Abbotsford, B.C.) led the Spartans with 15 digs, while Cailin Bitter (Abbotsford, B.C.)led the Cascades with 13 digs.
• Tonight's match was originally scheduled to be played at UFV in Abbotsford, B.C.

QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Ryan Hofer  
"I thought we did a really nice job of applying pressure early and throughout the match. Whether it was by serve or through our attack. We have been working hard on a few things this past week and it was really nice to see the girls put that into place."
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans and Cascades will match up again tomorrow evening with the final matches of the fall semester. Match time at the Langley Events Centre is set for 6 p.m. The match can be seen live on Canadawest.tv.
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
 
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