The University of Regina's women's volleyball team opened the 2018-19 conference schedule with a four-set road loss to Trinity Western on Friday night in Langley, B.C.

Trinity Western opened with a 25-14 win in the first set, but the Cougars replied in the second. TWU won five straight points to take a 21-20 lead, but the Cougars recovered with three straight of their own and Ashlee Sandiford and Emma Matheson combined for a big block to give Regina a 25-23 win in the second.

But after TWU won 25-14 in the third, the Cougars weren't able to square the match for the second time. The Spartans followed that up with a match-clinching 25-19 win in the fourth.

Hilary Howe led Trinity Western (1-0) with 15 kills, while Savannah Purdy had 11 kills and 11 digs and Ashtyn McKenzie collected 10 kills and 14 digs.

The Cougars (0-1) were led by Jessica Lerminiaux, who had a team-high 11 kills and hit .219 for the U of R. Taylor Ungar tied for the match lead with 14 digs, while setter Satomi Togawa had a double-double (28 assists, 11 digs).

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night (5:00 PT/6:00 MT) in Langley.