Cougars settle for weekend split after Saturday setback to Huskies

QUICKLY
The University of Regina’s women’s volleyball team swept Saskatchewan in straight sets on Friday night, but had the favour returned on Saturday as the Huskies took a 3-0 win over the Cougars in a Canada West match in Saskatoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Saskatchewan took control of the opening set with five straight points as part of an 8-1 run that turned an 8-8 tie into a 16-9 lead for the Huskies, and they went on to take the first by a 25-16 margin.
• The Cougars led for much of the second set, including as late as 18-16 after a Samantha Krausher ace. But Saskatchewan reeled off five consecutive points with Norah Matthews on serve, then answered two straight points by the Cougars with three straight to get to match point. Taryn Hannah’s kill finished it off for the Huskies, giving them a 25-21 win.
• The Cougars had their best statistical performance of the match in the third set, hitting .346 as a team compared to .250 for Saskatchewan. But Regina wasn’t able to hang onto their late leads, including when a Devyn Grimsrud kill gave them a set point at 24-23. The Huskies took four of the next five points, clinching the win on a wide hit by the Cougars.

COUGAR NOTES

• Jordy McEachern led the Cougars in kills for the second time in as many matches, finishing with 10 to go along with 6 digs.
• Cassadi Klapak had 22 assists, 6 kills, and tied McEachern and Krausher for the team lead with 3 blocks.
• Reese Evjen and McKenzie Keibel both had a team-high seven digs.

NEXT UP
The Cougars are back on the road next weekend as they open up the Canada West schedule with four consecutive road games. They’ll fly out to Vancouver to meet UBC on Friday and Saturday at War Memorial Gym.