Courtesy of MacEwan Sports Information

Edmonton, AB - The MacEwan University Griffins men's volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Mount Royal University Cougars in tonight's season opener at the MacEwan University City Centre Campus Gymnasium. The teams return to the Griffins home court tomorrow for the second game of the series at 6:30 p.m. MST.

GMU-MRU: 23-25, 25-16, 17-25, 16-25

The Cougars were ranked sixth in Canada West and eighth in the CIS in preliminary Coaches' polls earlier this week, and pushed the Griffins hard in the closest of four sets, 25-23. The young Griffins team was at their strongest in the second set, winning 25-16, but could not keep up the momentum falling 17-25 and then 16-25.

Veteran outside-hitter Ryan McDonald, Westlock, AB led the MacEwan University with 15 kills, two aces, and six digs.  Second-year right-side hitter Kai Hesthammer, Oystese, NOR had 14 kills, two assists, six digs, and three blocks in his Canada West debut. McDonald was named 'Player of the Game' for MacEwan University.

Cougar's fourth-year middle-hitter Josh Kirkham, Cambridge, ON had eight kills, three aces, three digs, and four block assists. Fifth-year middle-hitter Lucas King, Winnipeg, MB tallied eight kills, one assist, one ace, and three blocks. King was also named the Cougars' 'Player of the Game'.