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Home Games:

WVB: GMU (1) at MRU (3)

The Mount Royal University women's volleyball team swept the weekend after tonight's 3-1 win over the Grant MacEwan University Griffins (25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 25-21).

Tonight's match saw an even spread of play time across almost the full roster on both sides, with MRU playing 11 women while GMU played 13. 

But the variety on the hard wood was not the drawing factor for the crowd in Kenyon Court.

Tonight the Cougars recognized their two graduting seniors, Nataliia Klimenova and Nicole Bourget. Klimenova came to Mount Royal as a libero from Severodonetsk, Ukraine, and was a pillar in the squad's defence. Bourget, an outside hitter from Edmonton, really shone this year and has put up 21 kills and 12 digs so far this season. Both women were awarded player of the game in recognition of their dedication to the program. 

"I think its very hard to build a dynamic when you play a lot of different players at the same time, but I think we trusted the process," said Klimenova. "All this season was about trusting the process so that's what we did."

The match was truly won by the hands of Quinn Pelland, who's ball placement led to a quick finish for the first set in tonight's match, 25-19. Pelland didn't stop there, as her precise sets were the tone change needed for the Cougars in the fourth, after fumbling and giving up the third. 

GMU first began to find their footing after the tough first set, keeping the second constantly within arms reach, but unfortunately they could overcome the strong offence put up by Mount Royal. The second set finished 25-20 in favour of MRU thanks to the strategic use of roll shots and power pipe hits from the Cougars squad.

Macewan took their first lead early in third and were able to run with it until they took they set with a huge 25-15. Unfortunately the change up of Cougars lines couldn't hold off the Griffins, ready for a comeback. 

MRU switched back to their starting line up and were able to claim a fourth set win, and an overall victory. 

Nyadholi Thokbuom and Haley Roe were instrumental alongside Pelland tonight, with Thokbuom putting up 12 kills and six digs, while Roe made nine kills with a 47 per cent attack average. 

The Cougars advance to a 13-3 record after tonight's win, and will travel to Edmonton for their final two regular season games against the University of Alberta Golden Bears before heading into playoffs. 

Catch the game live on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.

Players of the game: Nataliia Klimenova and Nicole Bourget


WHCKY: GMU (1) at MRU (2)

The Mount Royal University Cougars were victorious in their final game of the regular season as they beat the MacEwan University Griffins 2-1 on Saturday night.

Tonight six graduating players were celebrated before puck-drop. Tianna Ko, Zoe De Beauville, Anna Purschke, Andrea Sanderson, Kate Scidmore, and Maddison Toppe's career accomplishments as Cougar athletes were recognized as each player one by one was called up to centre ice to be greeted by family members and head coach Scott Rivett.

"It's an emotional night for the seniors, but I think at the end of the day, we had a fun time playing the game, and we're excited for playoffs," said De Beauville. 

MacEwan opened up the scoring just 46 seconds into the game. From the bottom left corner, Joie Simon spotted Amanda Murray at the base of the right faceoff circle, who one-timed it up and over the blocker of Zoe De Beauville.

Courtney Kollman intercepted a pass from a Griffin defender in the neutral zone springing her on a breakaway opportunity with three minutes left in the first. With speed, Kollman entered the offensive zone, bringing the puck from her forehand to her backhand, then back to the forehand, deeking out goaltender Natalie Bender.

From the left-wing, Kollman sent the puck to Tianna Ko in between the hash marks. Ko's initial shot was batted down by the glove hand of Bender. On her second chance, Ko dove for the loose puck jabbing it into the right side of the net.

There were multiple opportunities throughout the rest of the second period, including a five on three power-play for MRU and three power-plays for GMU that gave both teams extended stents in the offensive zone. Neither team was able to capitalize on the man-advantage, leaving the score 2-1 for the Cougars entering the third.

MacEwan pushed hard to tie the game up in the last minute of the third when they pulled Bender for the extra attacker. Despite the prolonged offensive zone time and winning back-to-back faceoffs due to icing calls, the Griffins were not able to force the game into overtime.

MRU now enters the postseason on a bye after clinching first overall in the regular season. 

"The one thing we've had a lot of this season is starting and stopping with bye weeks and buffer weeks and everything else. I think we've done a good job of managing those weeks. We're just going to have to raise the intensity of our play to be able to play playoff style. I think a couple of weeks of prep, and we'll be able to do that," said head coach Rivett. 

Player of the game: Zoe De Beauville

MVB: GMU (1) at MRU (3)

The Mount Royal Cougars put on a huge show for their senior night against the Grant MacEwan Griffins, defeating them 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 25-20).

MRU men's volleyball recognized their two graduating seniors tonight - João Pedro Freier, an outside hitter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Mark DeWit, a middle from Lacombe, Alberta. 

Both men made sure to have their best games of the season tonight, with Freier having 11 kills, a new game high, five digs and fourt blocks, while DeWit had 7 kills, two digs, four blocks and a service ace.  The seniors split the player of the game title tonight. 

The fast feet and athletic play style of Jacob Van Geel was instrumental in the Cougars game play tonight. Van Geel was able to sneak kills past the triple blocks repeatedly put up by the Griffins. He finished the night with an impressive 20 kills and seven digs. Jackson Brennan also had a big night with 52 assists and 17 digs. 

"To me, my favourite [memories] are all the memories that were made off the court. That's something I am going to carry with me for the rest of my life," said Freier. "But, we still got a lot of volleyball to play and we got to get better for playoffs now."

Mount Royal claimed the first 25- 21, after struggling to end the set with a big MacEwan comeback closing what was an eight point Cougars lead. 

The Griffins led going into the technical timeout of the second set, led by Carsten Bergeron, who finished the night with 13 kills and four blocks. MacEwan carried this momentum to take the set 25-22.

MRU came into the third aggressive after dropping the second, and started the game with a eight to two lead over GMU, and forcing the Griffins into taking an early time out. They wouldn't take the set easily though, with MacEwan pushing it to extra points and the set finally finishing 26-24 in favour of the Cougars.

The final rally of the third saw diving saves on both sides and frantic runs to keep the ball in play.

The fourth set wasn't taken easily, with MacEwan staying on the heels of Mount Royal during every rally and for every point. The Cougars took the game after taking the final set, 25-20.

"The end got really fun out of nowhere. Me and Jackson found a really good connection so that got really fun fast," said DeWit. "It's been so fun to actually play this year. Last year was my first year here and yeah just getting to play and see what USPORT is like. I think that's been the coolest thing ever.

The Cougars go into their final regular season matches next weekend when they hit the road and face the University of Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton. 

Catch the game live on Canada West TV presented by Co-op. 

Players of the game: Mark DeWit and João Freier.


Away Games:

WBB: MRU (69) at GMU (77)

MBB: MRU (89) at GMU (69)