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Weekly Avalanche Report: Avalanche women split weekend with Bearcats to open second half

Weekly Avalanche Report: Avalanche women split weekend with Bearcats to open second half

Opening the second half of the PACWEST season, the Avalanche entered the weekend sitting third in the conference standings, with the host CBC Bearcats close behind in sixth. After a long bus ride to Abbotsford on Thursday evening and a solid night's rest, the Avs were ready to go when play began Friday night.

The Avalanche set the tone early on Friday, starting the match strong and comfortably taking the opening set. The second set proved much tighter, but the Avs executed well in the closing points, making key plays to build a 2–0 match lead. CBC responded with urgency, storming back to claim the next two sets and force a fifth-set tiebreak.

With the teams switching sides tied closely at 8–7, the Avs found another gear. Stevie Friesen came up with a pair of huge defensive plays to extend rallies, while Eloise Newsome delivered timely kills at critical moments. That combination proved decisive, as the Avalanche pulled away to secure a 3–2 victory and an important road win.

Saturday night saw a familiar script unfold, though with a different ending. The Bearcats controlled the opening set, but the Avalanche responded with improved execution and energy to take the second and even the match. Once again, both teams traded momentum, and for the second straight night the match went the distance.

This time, CBC jumped out to an early lead in the fifth set. Despite a determined push from the Avs, time ran out, and the Bearcats closed out the tiebreak to earn the win and split the weekend.

Reflecting on the weekend, head coach Bryan acknowledged the team's competitive spirit, saying that while the Avs "really wanted both games," he was "super impressed with our team's fight in each of the matches." He emphasized how tight the PACWEST continues to be, noting that "most games come down to a few small moments," and reiterated the importance of being prepared to execute under pressure. Bryan also credited CBC as "a solid team that fought hard to earn their victory on Saturday."

With a bye week ahead, the Avalanche will look to recover and refine before returning to action on January 22, when they fly to New Westminster to take on Douglas College, aiming to carry lessons learned into the next phase of the season.