WVB: Cougars lose tough five set battle to UBC

Box Score
WVB: UBC (3) at MRU (2)

Mount Royal University lost a tough five set battle against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the last game of round two action for CW women’s volleyball playoffs (25-15, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 12-15).

It all began with the Cougars hitting hard out the gate, hitting .214 compared to the Thunderbirds -.031. The first set was commanded by uneasy footwork and six service errors by UBC, but they were soon to find their groove early in the second.

Elise Petit had a strong start, finishing the first set with five kills that would grow to 22 by the end of the night. The hitter has incredible versatility, hammering down shots from anywhere along the net to set the Cougars back onto their heels.

Partnered with Petit, Brynn Pasin made her fair share of noise coming from the left side.The two hitters combined for four aces, with Pasin dropping three of them. She also added 15 kills and six digs to her statistics tonight.

“I mean, MRU came out blocking really well and further into the match I think I just had to use their block as much as I could,” said Pasin. “They were taking away a lot of space so I tried to be smart, mix it up as much as I could, try and get success wherever.”

Pasin really showed her skills within the second and fifth sets, creating a beautiful connection with Kayla Oxland, and allowed her to be instrumental in the momentum shift for UBC.
Not only was Pasin an unstoppable force on offence, her on court presence, communication and clean passing ability were the little things needed to top the Cougars squad. For this reason she was named player of the game for the Thunderbirds.

The Cougars also had impressive performances on the hardwood, with senior setter Quinn Pelland, having a season high 17 digs, and made an astounding six push-down kills.

Pelland’s connection with Haley Roe allowed Roe to have the performance of the night for MRU, and in turn named her player of the game.

“I think we started out really strong and our blocking defence was amazing, and same with our serve receive. We just had a few lapses,” said Roe. “I think just cleaning those up a little quicker and being able to get out of those dips quicker.”

Roe was a threat on the court, having an even performance across every aspect of the game. She made the team high 14 kills, with the team’s only two aces, 23 serve receptions, 13 digs and five blocks.

She was found in every corner and became involved in every play made in tonight’s match up, and combined with the reach of Nyadholi Thokbuom, shut down repeated attacks from the UBC side.

Thokbuom also finished the night on a high note, 12 kills, three digs and four block assists.

MRU, regardless of the final score up on the board, had a quality night. In both sets one by the Cougars team they were able to top the Thunderbirds by a substantial amount, with the first being won 25-15 and the third 25-16.

Both the Cougars and the Thunderbirds have now secured spots in the CW women’s volleyball semi-finals next weekend, hosted by the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alta.

“I am very excited.I think it’ll be a really tough weekend but it’ll be super fun. It’s going to be another really great game like this one, and I think if we work hard and do what we know how to do, the outcome will take care of itself,” said Roe as the team prepares to face their provincial rival, the Golden Bears.

Pasin will join her team in a west coast show down as they take on the Trinity Western Spartans in the Friday night semi-finals.

“It’ll be good. We’ve played Trinity a couple of times. We love to play them. It’ll be a really physical, intense game,” said Pasin.

Make sure to catch the game live on Canada West TV presented by Co-op!

Player of the game: Haley Roe.