Box Score

The University of Regina's women's volleyball team is on the cusp of clinching a Canada West postseason berth after its second three-set sweep over Thompson Rivers in as many nights on Saturday at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

The Cougars are now 10-10 on the season and can clinch a spot in the conference playoffs if No. 1-ranked UBC defeats Saskatchewan on Saturday night in Vancouver.

After winning in less than an hour on Friday night, the Cougars opened up with a 25-18 win in the first set on Saturday. The second set was the closest of the weekend, as there were 11 tie scores and three lead changes in total but an 8-1 run for the Cougars after falling down 20-17 gave them a 25-21 victory to go up 2-0 in the match.

The Cougars pulled away from Thompson Rivers with another 8-1 run in the third set, eventually winning 25-11 to clinch the match.

Desiree Ates led all players with 14 kills as the fifth-year outside hitter becomes just the fourth player in Canada West history with 300 in a single season. Ates also had 11 digs for the lone double-double of the match, while Michelle Sweeting had 12 kills and hit for a team-high .409 percentage. Megan Semeniuk led all players with 12 digs for the U of R, which also got 36 assists from rookie setter Leah Shevkenek in the victory.

Brianne Rauch led Thompson Rivers with seven kills, while Kaitlin Lomas, Carly Nelson, and Morgan Kolasa each had five. Lomas's five kills came on just nine attacks with only one error as she led all players with a .444 hitting percentage and also tied Sweeting for the match high with four blocks. Kolasa added a team-high eight digs for TRU (0-20).

Thompson Rivers will finish its season next weekend at home against Manitoba.

As for the Cougars, they'll look to continue their torrid second semester on the road at No. 6-ranked UBC Okanagan next Friday and Saturday. Those will be the final two matches of the Canada West schedule for the Cougars, who will qualify for the postseason unless Saskatchewan wins all three of its remaining matches – including later on Saturday against No. 1-ranked UBC – and the U of R loses twice to the Heat next weekend.