The University of Regina's women's volleyball team opens up the Canada West schedule this weekend at home, as the Cougars entertain No. 1-ranked Trinity Western on Friday night (6:00) and Saturday night (5:00) at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.
 
From the top down, the Cougars will have a new look this year. They'll be guided by interim head coach Shane Smith, who has the services of seven returning players from last year's squad. The returners are led by fifth-year middle Molly Wade-Cummings, who has been a starter for the Cougars since the 2013-14 season and ranks fourth in school rally-point era history with 233 career blocks.
 
The Cougars also have a fifth-year veteran in outside hitter Jenna Krahn, who has compiled 163 kills and 144 digs over the past two seasons after taking over as a starter prior to the 2014-15 campaign.
 
Besides Wade-Cummings and Krahn, only libero Taylor Ungar and outside hitter Ashlee Sandiford have multiple seasons of CIS experience. Ungar had 240 digs last season in her first year as the U of R's full-time libero, while Sandiford started all 24 matches last season and was second on the Cougars with 159 kills while tying for the team lead with 27 service aces.
 
The Cougars have a trio of second-year players who all saw a fair amount of playing time last year as rookies, including middle Dominika Janowczyk and outside hitters Diana Lumbala and Haley Wagar. Lumbala had the largest impact statistically of the three, starting a pair of conference matches and finishing with 50 kills and 37 digs.

Of the team's 10 newcomers, two are transfers with post-secondary experience including middle Kathleen Bruce (Emerald Park, Sask. / Briercrest College) and outside hitter Leah Sywanyk (White City, Sask. / South Florida State College). Bruce had 156 kills and led Briercrest with 46 blocks last season, earning ACAC South Division all-star honours in the process. Sywanyk comes to the U of R after piling up 202 kills and 220 digs last season for South Florida State (NJCAA Div. I).
 
The Cougars have eight rookies out of high school on the roster, including three setters – Allie Cantelo (Virden, Man. / Virden Collegiate), Kirstin Greve (Lanigan, Sask. / Lanigan Central HS), and Elizabeth Tooth (Winnipeg, Man. / Vincent Massey Collegiate). The team also welcomes outside hitters Jordin Gudmundson (Wynyard, Sask. / Wynyard Composite HS) and Natanis Kuster (Regina, Sask. / Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS), middles Emma Matheson (Saskatoon, Sask. / Holy Cross HS) and Rebecca Wood (Regina, Sask. / Miller Comprehensive HS), and libero Katie Melnick (Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask. / Greenall HS).
 
Trinity Western, two-time defending Canada West champions, earned the No. 1 ranking in the first U Sports Top Ten of the season after rolling through non-conference play with a 9-1 record. The Spartans' only loss was to Alberta in a four-set match at the West Coast Classic, but TWU avenged that loss with a four-set win over the Pandas just two days later.
 
The Spartans return all four of their All-Canadians from last season, including setter Nikki Cornwall and right side Elizabeth Wendel who both earned first-team honours. Outside hitter Sophie Carpentier and middle Katelyn Devaney both return after being named second-team All-Canadians last year.
 
Both matches this weekend will be broadcast live at www.canadawest.tv with live statistics available at www.reginacougars.com.