Cougars push No. 2 TWU again, but fall in four to Spartans

QUICKLY
The University of Regina’s women’s volleyball team again provided a stern test for No. 2-ranked Trinity Western on Saturday, but for the second consecutive night the Spartans took a four-set victory at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport in Regina.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars couldn’t have asked for a better start to Saturday’s match. Regina reeled off a 9-1 run midway through the first set, turning what had been a two-point advantage into a huge 20-10 lead. The teams traded points from there until a Trinity Western service error clinched a 25-15 win for the Cougars.
• The second set saw Trinity Western jump out to a 9-2 lead thanks to seven straight points with Kirsten Kampman on serve. The Cougars battled back with a 9-3 run after Trinity Western had gone up 19-10, but the Spartans finished off the set with three straight points to take it 25-19.
• Trinity Western took control of the third set with a 10-1 run that featured an extended serving run by Jayda Harder. The Spartans ended up winning the third by a 25-13 margin.
• The fourth set was a tight two-point affair until Trinity Western used a late push to pull away from the Cougars. TWU finished off the match with seven consecutive points, finally clinching the win with a Harder kill that gave the visitors a 25-16 victory.

NOTES

• Jordy McEachern led the Cougars with 10 kills and also piled up 5 service aces.
• Cassadi Klapak finished with a double-double, registering 29 assists and 11 digs.
• Baillie Williams and Fiona Little split the libero duties for Regina. Williams collected 10 digs, while Little was tasked with reception duties and passed 34 of 37 serves that TWU sent her way.
• The Cougars hit a blistering .414 in their first-set win.
• Trinity Western remains undefeated with the win, improving to 8-0 on the season.

NEXT UP
The Cougars are on the road for the next two weekends to finish off the first half of the Canada West schedule. Both trips will see them head to Edmonton, as they’ll face MacEwan next Friday and Saturday before playing Alberta on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.