Box Score

The University of Regina's women's volleyball team had to settle for a weekend split after a four-set loss to Mount Royal on Saturday night in Calgary.

Mount Royal took the opening set by a 25-20 margin before the Cougars came back with a 25-20 win of their own in the second to tie the match at a set apiece. In the third set, a late 5-1 run by the U of R put the teams level at 23-23 before back-to-back Mount Royal points gave them a 25-23 victory.

The Cougars outhit Mount Royal .320 to .217 in the fourth with backup setter Camila Carvalho running the U of R offence for much of the set, but five service aces and a pair of blocks by Mount Royal proved to be the difference as they clinched the match with a 25-20 win. Carolyn O'Dwyer led Mount Royal (3-5) with 15 kills with Fallon Middlemiss adding 10 kills in the victory. Kyle Willis had six kills and a match-high six blocks, while both O'Dwyer and Middlemiss tied for the team lead with nine digs.

Desiree Ates (pictured) ended up with 16 kills for the Cougars, marking the sixth time in eight matches this year that she's had at least 15. Chelsea Ziolkowski chipped in with nine kills, while Molly Wade-Cummings had a team-high five blocks and libero Megan Semeniuk tied for the match high with nine digs.

The Cougars will now prepare for a pair of road matches at No. 3-ranked Trinity Western (5-3) next Friday and Saturday in Langley, B.C.

NOTES: Ates ranks second in Canada West in both kills (126) and kills per set (3.82) ... Michelle Sweeting continues to lead the conference with a .354 hitting percentage.