EDMONTON – The Alberta Golden Bears finished their regular season in style with a straight set (27-25, 25-15, 25-15) victory over the Mount Royal Cougars Saturday afternoon at the Saville Centre.
The Bears finish the regular season ranked #6 nationally with a record of 15-3, in addition to a Central division title. The Cougars finish 7-11, good for third in the Central division.
Alberta rookie Isaac Heslinga had strong showing for the second consecutive game, finishing with a game-high 15 kills.
MRU’s Zach Lobdell played admirably in place of the nation’s third leading attacker Chris Byam, recording a team-high 14 kills.
The Cougars maintained the good form seen in the second half of last night’s contest, forcing an early Alberta timeout in the first set. The Bears were uncharacteristically sloppy to begin the game, gifting seven of the first sixteen Mount Royal points in the form of attack errors. They tightened up after that, however, and would not make an error for the rest of the frame.
As if last night’s thriller were not enough, this set went to extras where Alberta would win 27-25. The Bears were aided by their first-year players; Sam Drybrough, Julien Phillips, and Heslinga all saw significant playing time down the stretch.
Lobdell, who played sparingly in last night’s game for the Cougars, led the set with five kills.
Fifth-year setter Max Elgert conducted an efficient Bears attack in the second set, dishing 14 assists to four different Bears in a 25-15 steamroll of the Cougars. Heslinga continued his strong play with a set-high six kills.
Alberta would continue to roll through the third set, with clinical finishing and good defense to stifle the Cougars 25-15. Heslinga recorded 6 kills in this set and finished with an eye-blistering .609 hitting percentage.
The Bears were incredibly efficient from the second set on, recording 32 kills against just 14 combined errors.
The Golden Bears host Pool B in what is the start of the Canada West Playoffs beginning next week on Thursday. They will face the #8 USPORTS ranked UBC Thunderbirds (10-6**), the Brandon Bobcats (8-9**), and the 1-15 Fraser Valley Cascades.
The Cougars are off to Langley in Pool A action that will see them matchup against the #1 USPORTS ranked host Trinity Western Spartans (14-1**), the Saskatchewan Huskies (9-8**), and the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (6-10**).
**All records at time of writing.
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