Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4
Home Games:

WVB: MAN (1) at MRU (3)

MRU women's volleyball make a three set comeback after giving up the opening set to the University of Manitoba Bisons Friday night. The Cougars ended up taking the game 3-1 in an exhilarating match-up, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20.

The night started strong with a huge swingand a service ace from Madison Marshall before MRU took off, leading early 8-2.

Manitoba regained their footing after being pushed back at the start and brought the score to 15-14 in their favour for the mid-way point of the first set. 

The visitors eventually took the set after a massive block error on the Cougars side sending it way out of bounds.

There was a complete shift in second set for Mount Royal, with better accuracy on sets and ball placement. MRU went on an incredible run, at one point leading Manitoba 19-7. But the Bisons didn't give up easily and closed the gap to a 25-16 set win for the Cougars.

Madison Marshall was lethal tonight, with impressive ball speed off a hit that no one on the Bison side could stop. She ended the night with 16 kills, 12 digs, four service aces and two blocks. The powerhouse that is Marshall was a necessity in tonight's victory. 

Eve Catojo was the wall keeping MAN alive in set 2, paired with Ella Gray, reduced the deficit from a 10 point lead by MRU, to only seven. But Faye Murray was able to sway momentum back in favour of the Cougars. 

During the second and third sets, Manitoba seemed to lose communication and their pass accuracy, providing the Cougars a massive advantage on the court, and gave them a third set win to bring the score to 2-1 for the home team. 

The third set went to Mount Royal, topping Manitoba 25-16. 

Cougars took off in the fourth hoping for a quick finish but Manitoba was too determined, and began bringing momentum back in their favour, holding MRU at 24 while they made up five.
The game finally finished with MRU taking the fourth set 25-20. 

In her first playing season for MRU, Sydney Scratcherd put up a memorable performance. She finished the night with 16 kills, 3 aces, five digs and two blocks, rightfully awarding her player of the game. 

"Everyone was so supportive out there, and made it really easy for me. I just kind of focused in and passed those balls, got opportunities and I took them," said Scratcherd. "I've never really experienced anything like this. Our team is pretty, I think really special. Just the most supportive people, my best friends, I'm just so grateful I get to play with them every day." 

The teams come back to Kenyon Court with a five p.m. service, before heading into winter break. 

Catch the game live on campus or on Canada West TV. 

Go Cougars. 



MHKY: TWU (1) at MRU (6)
 
Connor Bouchard has found significant success on the Mount Royal University Cougars men's hockey team's top line alongside his former teammates from the Tri-City Americans, Nolan Yaremko and Riley Sawchuk. Bouchard scored a hattrick for MRU tonight to lead his team past the Trinity Western University Spartans with a 6-1 score.
 
"I'd be lying if I said that I didn't come here to play with [Yaremko and Sawchuk]," said Bouchard following the Cougars' win. "Those guys are two of my best buddies. Getting to play with them is a treat."
 
Cougars netminder Shane Farkas made his debut for the team between the pipes. Berk Berkeliev made his sixth start for the Spartans.
 
MRU had the ice titled in their favour right from puck drop. They held possession and did an excellent job supressing the Spartans' zone entries. The dominance was evident on the scoresheet. The Cougars out-shot their opponents 45-17.
 
Connor Bouchard found the back of the net first on a Cougars' powerplay. A fluid passing play gave him a wide-open net.
 
Berkeliev did his best to keep TWU in it. He was tested frequently and made some fantastic saves. However, the Cougars' fast and aggressive play was too much.
 
Bouchard added his second in the middle frame to give MRU a 2-0 lead.
 
The Spartans were able to cut the lead to one with a goal from Jarrett Penner. The puck squeaked through Farkas to get Trinity on the board.
 
Bouchard secured with hattrick with a great deke that fooled the defence and Berkeliev. Assistant captain, Connor Blake made sure to grab the puck as a souvenir for the rookie, Bouchard.
 
Spencer Moe added to the Cougars lead in the third and then Riley Sawchuk scored his league-leading thirteenth and fourteenth goal to solidify the blowout victory.
 
Mount Royal and Trinity Western will re-match Saturday at 6 p.m. at Flames Community Arena. Tickets are available here or you can watch live on Canada West TV.
 
Player of the game: Connor Bouchard


MVB: MAN (0) at MRU (3)

The Manitoba Bisons made some noise in Kenyon Court Friday night after pushing the MRU men's volleyball team to three close sets before the Cougars could claim the victory.
 
Mount Royal defeated the visitors 25-23, 25-19 and 25-22.

"I think we were passing really well, we were executing on those, and our attacking," said Griffin Butler, MRU player of the game. "We were putting away balls even when they were off the net and that was really great to see, we were making smart shots out there." 

By the mid-way point in the first set, it was near identical play with the score shifting back-and-forth. Max Haronga was a game changer for the Cougars, taking them on a three point run before Mantioba's head coach, Arnd "Lupo" Ludwig, called for time out. Shortly after MAN was back in it, beating the Cougars in a two v one joust at the net. 

Manitoba out hit Mount Royal 44 per cent compared to their 28 per cent, but the Cougars took the set 25-23. 

Josh Jehle for Manitoba was a life line, diving into play for a pancake save to keep the team alive, finding his way to any space on the floor to be a consistent support.

In the second set MRU started utilizing their back line, with Byam hammering the ball deep into Manitoba's zone. The Cougars seemed to find a rhythm, and the Bison's couldn't find a gap.

Jonah Dueck was a constant threat to Mount Royals defence, finishing the night with nearly a third of the team's kills. 

The home team improved their hitting percentage to 33 in the second set, and took it from the Bisons' 25-19, bringing their lead to 2-0. The set was won after a miscommunication on Manitoba's side. 

Increased pressure from the Bisons' made for another tight set in the third, with Manitoba right on the heels of Mount Royal with two points remaining in the set, and the game. This was enough to keep the energy high but not enough to overtake the set and push the game to four. 

Even distribution on the court was one of the key elements in the win for MRU. Five players had over five kills tonight, with Luis Lange leading the charge with eight.

Lange was closely followed by Chris Byam and Jacob Van Geel who each put down seven. 

Butler was the star of the night with four digs and 16 receptions. He was solid on the floor and refused to allow the Bisons a spot. 

"It was really good, energy was up there, we were just in the right groove," said Butler. "I think we just gotta be a little more consistent, especially with the serves, putting more of those in and we should be more consistent getting digs."   

Both teams return to Kenyon Court tomorrow night for a 7 p.m. start. Catch the game on campus or on Canada West TV. 

Go Cougars.


Away Games:

WBB: MRU (52) at VIC (85)

WHKY: MRU (3) at TWU (0)

MBB: MRU (80) at VIC (114)