Box Score

The University of Regina's women's volleyball team now has wins in eight of its last nine matches after a four-set victory over No. 6-ranked UBC Okanagan on Friday night in Kelowna, B.C.

The Cougars survived a UBC Okanagan set point in the first and eventually won 27-25 after a Michelle Sweeting kill and a Heat attack error broke a 25-25 tie. The teams then traded 25-21 victories in the second and third sets, as UBC Okangan drew the match even at a set apiece before the U of R's win in the third gave the Cougars a 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth.

The fourth set featured nine tie scores and three lead changes before the Cougars finally finished it off following a Melanie Sanford timeout at 23-23. Desiree Ates put down her 21st kill of the match to put the U of R up one, then Chelsea Ziolkowski (pictured) floated a perfect serve into the back corner for a service ace which clinched the match.

Ates led all players in both kills (21) and digs (16), while Sweeting was close behind with 18 kills and hit .469 in the match. Sweeting also added eight blocks and seven digs, while Leah Shevkenek ended up with 49 assists and Ziolkowski had six kills, six blocks, and nine digs to go along with a pair of aces.

Megan Festival led UBC Okanagan (12-9) with 20 kills and 10 digs.

The Cougars remain in seventh place in the Canada West standings, but could finish anywhere from fifth to seventh depending on the outcome of the Regina/UBC Okanagan and Alberta/UBC matches tonight. The Cougars will meet Manitoba in the Canada West quarterfinals if they can jump up to fifth place and will face either Brandon or Trinity Western if they finish in sixth or seventh.

The Cougars and Heat will meet again on Saturday at 5 p.m. (PST).