The University of Regina's women's volleyball team survived two match points before pulling out a five-set victory over UBC Okanagan on Friday night as both teams opened up the Canada West schedule at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.
The Cougars jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the deciding set, only to have UBC Okanagan come storming back with six straight points on the serving of Amaya Perry. But the Heat couldn't convert on their match points at 14-13 or at 15-14, and the Cougars finished off the match with back-to-back
Emma Matheson kills that gave them the win.
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"I was very proud and happy with how our team handled the match and hung in there when it got tough," Cougars head coach
Melanie Sanford said. "I think we learned a lot about ourselves and were able to overcome some obstacles and progress with our performance."
Britt Davis had a team-high 13 kills for the Cougars (1-0) in her Canada West debut and added 19 digs for a double-double, while
Diana Lumbala added 12 kills and
Jessica Lerminiaux put down 11. Also making her Canada West debut was Regina libero
Sierra Parris-Kruger, who piled up a match-high 23 digs. Matheson finished with eight kills and a match-leading nine blocks.
UBC Okanagan's Jade Bussard led all players with 18 kills, while Hellen Lacava had a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.
It looked like the Cougars might be finished early in the fourth after going down 2-1 in the match and 13-6 in the set. But the Cougars scored the next six points with setter
Annika Hufnagel serving, and ended up scoring 19 of the final 24 points in the set to force the fifth. The Heat's two wins came in the first (25-22) and third (25-14) sets, which sandwiched a 25-19 victory by Regina in the second.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in Regina. Match time is again scheduled for 6:00 at the CKHS.
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